Safety helmet with telescopically adjustable head size

Abstract

A safety helmet with a helmet shell, with a bearing ring, with a rotatable actuating element (14) and with a transmission unit (15.1, 15.2). The transmission unit (15.1, 15.2) transmits a rotation of the actuating element to the bearing ring, so that the head size provided is changed. A helmet shell-side transmission piece (15.1) is non-rotatably connected to the actuating element (14) such that they rotate in unison, and a bearing ring-side transmission piece (15.2) is connected mechanically to the bearing ring. The helmet shell-side transmission piece (15.1) can move both relative to the actuating element (14) and relative to the bearing ring-side transmission piece (15.2) linearly in two opposite directions. The distance between the actuating element (14) and the bearing ring can be changed thereby.

Claims

1. A safety helmet comprising: an arched helmet shell; a bearing ring attached on an inside to the helmet shell and configured to fully or at least partially encompass a head of a user of the safety helmet and to determine a head size of the safety helmet; an actuating element accessible from an outside of the helmet shell and rotatably attached to the helmet shell; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a rotation of the actuating element to the bearing ring such that the head size provided by the bearing ring is changed, wherein the transmission unit comprises: a helmet shell-side transmission piece non-rotatably connected to the actuating element so as to rotate in unison with the actuating element; and a bearing ring-side transmission piece, wherein: the helmet shell-side transmission piece and the bearing ring-side transmission piece together at least partially bridge a distance between the actuating element and the bearing ring and extend along a common longitudinal axis; the helmet shell-side transmission piece is configured to move, linearly in parallel to the common longitudinal axis, relative to the actuating element in two opposite directions; the bearing ring-side transmission piece is non-rotatably connected to the helmet shell-side transmission piece so as to be rotatable in unison therewith and is mechanically connected to the bearing ring; the bearing ring-side transmission piece is configured to move, linearly in parallel to the common longitudinal axis, relative to the helmet shell-side transmission piece in two opposite directions; and the distance between the actuating element and the bearing ring is changeable both by a linear movement of the helmet shell-side transmission piece relative to the actuating element and by a linear movement of the bearing ring-side transmission piece relative to the helmet shell-side transmission piece.

2. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an intermediate piece, wherein: the intermediate piece is non-rotatably connected to the helmet shell-side transmission piece such that the intermediate piece and the helmet shell-side transmission piece are rotatable in unison; the intermediate piece is non-rotatably connected to the actuating element such that the intermediate piece and the actuating element are rotatable in unison; and the helmet shell-side transmission piece is configured to move linearly in parallel to the common longitudinal axis relative to the intermediate piece in two opposite directions.

3. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 2, wherein: the intermediate piece comprises at least one intermediate piece-side stop element; the helmet shell-side transmission piece comprises at least one outer helmet shell-side stop element; the at least one intermediate piece-side stop element corresponds to the at least one outer helmet shell-side stop element; and the at least one intermediate piece-side stop element and the at least one outer helmet shell-side stop element together limit a linear movement of the helmet shell-side transmission piece relative to the intermediate piece in parallel to the common longitudinal axis.

4. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 2, wherein: the intermediate piece is hollow; the helmet shell-side transmission piece engages into the intermediate piece; and the helmet shell-side transmission piece engages into the intermediate piece with different depths depending on a rotary position of the actuating element relative to the helmet shell.

5. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 4, wherein: the helmet shell-side transmission piece has an outer profile and the intermediate piece has an inner profile, which corresponds to the outer profile; and the connection between the intermediate piece and the helmet shell-side transmission piece, which is a connection enabling a rotation in unison, is established by the two corresponding profiles.

6. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 2, wherein: the intermediate piece is rotatably connected to the helmet shell; and a distance is present between the actuating element and the intermediate piece.

7. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 2, wherein the actuating element is linearly shiftable relative to the intermediate piece in two opposite directions, which are parallel to the common longitudinal axis.

8. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 2, wherein the intermediate piece is guided through the actuating element.

9. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a plate visible from the outside, wherein: the plate encloses the intermediate piece; and the actuating element encloses the plate.

10. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the helmet shell-side transmission piece comprises at least one inner helmet shell-side stop element; the bearing ring-side transmission piece comprises at least one bearing ring-side stop element; the at least one inner helmet shell-side stop element corresponds to the at least one bearing ring-side stop element; and the at least one inner helmet shell-side stop element and the at least one bearing ring-side stop element together limit a linear movement of the bearing ring-side transmission piece in parallel to the common longitudinal axis relative to the helmet shell-side transmission piece.

11. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the helmet shell-side transmission piece is hollow; and the bearing ring-side transmission piece engages into the hollow helmet shell-side transmission piece with different depths depending on the rotary position of the actuating element relative to the helmet shell.

12. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 11, wherein: the bearing ring-side transmission piece has an outer profile; the helmet shell-side transmission piece has an inner profile, which corresponds to the outer profile; and the connection between the bearing ring-side transmission piece and the helmet shell-side transmission piece is established by the outer profile and the inner profile.

13. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuating element, the bearing ring-side transmission piece and the helmet shell-side transmission piece are rotatable relative to the helmet shell about the common longitudinal axis.

14. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the transmission unit comprises at least one rotatably mounted transmission element; and the bearing ring-side transmission piece is permanently connected to the at least one rotatably mounted transmission element.

15. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the bearing ring comprises at least two bearing ring parts movable relative to one another; the transmission unit transmits a rotation of the actuating element to the bearing ring such that the at least two bearing ring parts move relative to one another; a movement of the two bearing ring parts relative to one another changes the provided head size of the safety helmet; and the bearing ring-side transmission piece is mechanically connected to at least one of the at least two bearing ring parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a safety helmet obliquely from below;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the safety helmet, from FIG. 1, obliquely from a read side;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view showing the safety helmet, from FIG. 1, horizontally;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view and plan view showing the actuating unit and the transmission unit;

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the actuating unit and the rear bearing ring;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view showing the actuating unit and the rear bearing rings;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the actuating unit and the toothed gears of the transmission unit, which transmits a rotation of the actuating unit to the two rear bearing rings, from the side;

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the telescopic actuating unit;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the actuating unit obliquely from the inside;

(11) FIG. 10 is a side perspective view showing the actuating unit;

(12) FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the actuating unit, wherein the fluted disk is omitted;

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the handwheel from an oblique viewing direction from the rear;

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the handwheel tube from an oblique viewing direction from the front;

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the handwheel tube from an oblique viewing direction from the rear; and

(16) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the actuating unit from the side.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) Referring to the drawings, the present invention pertains to a safety helmet, which can be used by firefighters, police, rescue workers and members of other rescue teams in order to better protect the head from mechanical, thermal and chemical effects.

(18) The safety helmet according to the exemplary embodiment comprises—just like many other safety helmets—a helmet shell made of a hard material, a bearing (support) structure and an inner lining. the inner lining is in contact with the head of a person, who is wearing this safety helmet on his head, and it comprises textile components. This person will hereinafter be called “the user.”

(19) The designations “left,”, “right,” “front,” “rear,” top” and “bottom” which will be used below and pertains to the usual orientations when the safety helmet is seated on the head of a user and the user is looking forward. The viewing direction BR of a user looking straight forward is shown in some figures. The inner lining is omitted in the figures.

(20) The bearing structure connects the inner lining to the helmet shell and comprises a sequence of a plurality of parts of a bearing ring, wherein the bearing ring is led completely around the head of the user. The bearing ring is manufactured from a flexible material and can adapt itself up to a certain degree to the shape of the head and to the size of the head of a user. This circular bearing ring shall be in contact with the head without a major clearance, on the one hand, in order for the safety helmet not to slip during use. Therefore, there is, as a rule, a distance between the bearing ring and the helmet shell. 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 flexibility of the material alone is not sufficient for this adaptation. The “head size” of the bearing ring, which is the actual length of the bearing ring being in contact with the head of the user, will also be referred to hereinafter.

(21) The safety helmet according to the exemplary embodiment therefore comprises—just as 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 leads to a change in the overall length of the bearing ring. This rotation must be transmitted to the bearing ring in the interior of the helmet shell. How this happens in the exemplary embodiment will be described below. The handwheel acts as the actuating element according to the patent claims.

(22) A problem solved by the present invention is that the handwheel must remain in mechanical contact with the bearing ring in order for the user to be able to adjust the head size by a rotation of the handwheel. On the other hand, the distance between the handwheel and the bearing ring shall, however, be able to vary within a broad range in order to be able to change the head size in a broad range.

(23) FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 show a safety helmet 100 in three perspective views. This safety helmet 100 comprises an arched helmet shell 7, which is preferably manufactured from a hard material, i.e., it cannot adapt itself to the shape of the head of a user, a shock-absorbing shell 6, which is in contact on the inside with the helmet shell 7 and is manufactured from a plastically deformable material, so that the shock-absorbing shell 6 can absorb kinetic energy, a front holding ring part 2, which is in contact on the inside with the shock-absorbing shell 6 and is connected to the helmet shell 7, a rear holding ring part 29, which is likewise in contact with the shock-absorbing shell 6 and is connected to the helmet shell 7, a pivotable visor 4, which is connected rotatably to the helmet shell 7, wherein the visor 4 is located in front of the eyes of the user when it is pivoted down, a horseshoe-shaped front bearing ring part 5, which is in contact with the forehead of a user, a left rear bearing ring part 9.l and a right rear bearing ring part 9.r, which have a distance from the head of the user, an intermediate piece 28, which connects the front bearing ring part 5 to the front holding ring part 2, a central rear bearing ring part in the form of a bearing support 8 for the back of the head, wherein the bearing support 8 for the back of the head is in contact with the back of the head of the user and is permanently connected to the helmet shell 7, a guide element 3, which is connected to the bearing support 8 of the back of the head and which will be described below, a transmission unit 10, 11, 12, 15, which will likewise be described below, and an actuating unit 1 for adjusting the head size of the safety helmet 100, wherein the actuating unit 1 comprises a handwheel 14, which is accessible from the outside and which is attached rotatably in the rear at the helmet shell 7 and projects outwards over the helmet shell 7.

(24) The front bearing ring part 5 is connected by a respective snap-in connection 31.l, 31.r each to the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r. The central rear bearing ring part (bearing support for the back of the head) is located between the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r and is connected to these. The front bearing ring part 5, the rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r and the bearing support 8 for the back of the head together form the bearing ring according to the exemplary embodiment, which fully encompasses the head of the user and is partially in contact with the head. This bearing ring 5, 8, 9.l, 9.r defines (determines/sets) the head size of the safety helmet 100. The index .l designates a left component and the index .r designates a right component.

(25) The front bearing ring part 5 is preferably enclosed by a textile sheathing. This textile sheathing is located between the front bearing ring part 5 and the forehead of a user of the safety helmet 100. The textile sheathing cushions the front bearing ring part 5 and absorbs sweat. The textile sheathing can especially preferably be removed from the front bearing ring part 5 and cleaned separately from the rest of the safety helmet 100, or the bearing ring part 5 can be removed and cleaned together with the textile sheathing. The bearing support 8 for the back of the head preferably also has a textile sheathing or at least a cushioning.

(26) The front holding ring part 2 and the rear holding ring part 29 form together a circular holding ring, which is permanently connected to the helmet shell 7. If the head size provided by the bearing ring 5, 8, 9.l, 9.r is changed, the length of the holding ring 2, 29 preferably remains constant. The distance between the bearing ring 5, 8, 9.l, 9.r and the holding ring 2, 29 therefore changes in case of a change in the head size.

(27) In order to increase the head size, the left rear bearing ring part 9.l can be displaced horizontally and linearly to the left relative to the central rear bearing ring part 8, and the right rear bearing ring part 9.r can be displaced horizontally and linearly to the right relative to the central rear bearing ring part 8. The two snap-in connections 31.l, 31.r between the front bearing ring part 5 and the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r move along during this displacement. To reduce the head size, the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r can be displaced correspondingly to the right and to the left. The guide element 3 guides the two movable rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r during these linear displacements.

(28) The handwheel 14 of the actuating unit 1 comprises a round grip element 45 with a plurality of projections 44. A user can better grasp the handwheel 14, even if he is using gloves, by means of the projections 44. The handwheel 14 is mechanically connected to the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r, which will be described farther below. It is possible that a closing unit, not shown, e.g., a cap, can be attached to the handwheel 14 and removed again.

(29) FIG. 4 shows on the right-hand side a part of the helmet shell 7, the actuating unit 1 and the transmission unit 10, 11, 12, 15 in a cross-sectional view. The cross-sectional area is arranged at right angles and is located in the middle of the safety helmet 100. The common rotation axis DA of the actuating unit 1 and of the transmission unit 10, 11, 12, 15 is located in the drawing plane in the right-hand part of FIG. 4 and is at right angles to the view in the left-hand part of FIG. 4.

(30) FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the actuating unit 1, the rear holding ring part 29 and the rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r. FIG. 5 shows the viewing direction BR away from the viewer, and FIG. 6 shows the oblique viewing direction towards the viewer. The front bearing ring part 5 and the bearing support 8 for the back of the head are omitted in FIG. 6.

(31) FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate how a rotation of the actuating unit 1 leads to a synchronous displacement of the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r towards one another or away from one another. A driving toothed gear 10 is non-rotatably connected to the actuating unit 1 such that they rotate in unison. The distance between the toothed gear 10 and the actuating unit 1 is variable. A rotation of the actuating unit 1 brings about a rotation of the driving toothed gear 10 to the left or to the right. The driving toothed gear 10 meshingly engages a larger driven toothed gear 12. The larger driven toothed gear 12 is permanently connected to a smaller driving toothed gear 11, cf. left-hand part of FIG. 4. The smaller driven toothed gear 11 meshingly engages both a toothed segment 13.l of the left rear bearing ring part 9.l and a toothed segment 13.r of the right rear bearing ring part 9.r. The toothed gears 10, 11 and 12 consequently provide together a transmission gear. The guide unit 3 prevents a toothed segment 13.l, 13.r from yielding.

(32) FIG. 7 shows the transmission gear 10,11, 12 as well as the actuating unit 1 in a perspective view from the side. The common rotation axis DA is located in the drawing plane of FIG. 7. The following components also belong to the mechanism with which the head size of the bearing ring 5, 8, 9.l, 9.r can be changed: a telescopic bar 15, which comprises a tube 15.1 and a pin 15.2, a disk 33 at the front end of the pin 15.2, wherein the disk 33 has a through hole for the pin 15.2 and is permanently connected to the driving toothed gear 10, and a screw 16, which is screwed centrally into a corresponding screw hole 25 in the pin 15.2, is permanently connected to the disk 33 and which holds the toothed gear 10 and the disk 33 at the tube 15.1.

(33) The actuating unit 1 with the handwheel 14 and the telescopic bar 15 are rotatable relative to the helmet shell 7 about the common rotation axis DA in the exemplary embodiment. The tube 15.1 acts in the exemplary embodiment as the helmet shell-side transmission piece and the pin 15.2 as the bearing ring-side transmission piece. Both transmission pieces 15.1 and 15.2 extend along the common rotation axis DA.

(34) The transmission unit 10, 11, 12, 15 is supported at the rear holding ring part 29, cf. also FIG. 4. The screw 16 with the disk engages on the inside with the pin 15.2. The pin 15.2 is pushed partially into the tube 15.1. The tube 15.1 engages with the handwheel 14 or projects over the handwheel 14. The transmission piece 15 is shown twice in FIG. 7, namely, once together with the actuating unit 1 and with the toothed gears 10, 11, 12 (left) and once separately (right). The rotation axis DA is identical in both views.

(35) The actuating unit 1 comprises in the exemplary embodiment The handwheel 14 comprising the grip element 45 with the projections 44, an intermediate piece in the form of a handwheel tube 18, which handwheel tube engages on the inside with the handwheel 14 and is even passed through the handwheel 14 in one embodiment, a fluted disk 19, an outwardly arched disk 34, which closes the handwheel tube 18, an identification plate 26, a sealing ring 47 and a circlip 48.

(36) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view through the actuating unit 1 and the telescopic bar 15. The following stop elements, which set the maximum length of the telescopic unit 18, 15.1, 15.2 and hence the maximum possible distance between the rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r and the handwheel 14, are shown: stop elements 22.1, 22.2, . . . on the inside at the handwheel tube 18, stop elements 17.1, 17.2, . . . on the outside at the tube 15.1, stop elements 24.1, 24.2, . . . on the inside at the tube 15.1, stop elements 23.1, 23.2, . . . on the outside at the pin 15.2.

(37) The minimum distance is limited by the length of the handwheel tube 18, by the length of the tube 15.1 and by the length of the pin 15.2, depending on which length is the greatest.

(38) In addition, the following components are shown in FIG. 8: a profile of the helmet shell 7, with which the handwheel tube 18 is in contact, drawn in broken lines, the fluted disk 19, an O-ring 21, the screw hole 25, and the identification plate 26.

(39) Thanks to the embodiment according to the present invention of the safety helmet 100, the range of the possible head sizes, which the bearing ring 5, 8, 9.l, 9.r can provide for a user of the safety helmet 100, is broader than in other possible transmission units between an actuating element and a bearing ring. It is possible, but not necessary thanks to the present invention, to replace a part of the safety helmet 100 in order to adapt the safety helmet 100 to a head size. As a result, the present invention reduces the number of necessary variants of components of the safety helmet 100, which must be kept ready. Furthermore, the present invention reduces the number of replacement parts for the safety helmet 100.

(40) A distance inevitably develops between the rear bearing ring parts 8, 9.l, 9.r and the helmet shell 7. Hair of a user may enter into the intermediate space formed thereby. Thanks to the present invention, the risk of such hair being caught and clamped during an adjustment of the head size is lower than in case of other possible embodiments of a transmission unit.

(41) The present invention eliminates the need to adjust the head size with the use of an elastic element. Such an elastic element can cause hair to be clamped. The elastic element may also wear out more rapidly than other parts.

(42) FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 15 show the actuating unit 1 from four different viewing directions, namely, obliquely from the front (FIG. 9, where the handwheel 14 is behind the handwheel tube 18), from the side (FIG. 10) and straight from behind (FIG. 11, where the handwheel 14 is in front of the handwheel tube 18) in different perspective views. FIG. 15 shows in a cross-sectional view the actuating unit 1 from the side. FIG. 12 shows the handwheel 14 from an oblique viewing direction from the rear in a perspective view. FIG. 13 shows the handwheel tube 18 in a perspective view from an oblique viewing direction from the front, and FIG. 14 shows it obliquely from the rear.

(43) The handwheel 14, the handwheel tube 18, the tube 15.1 and the pin 15.2 are arranged coaxially, i.e., they have the same central axis, and this central axis is identical to the rotation axis DA, and they are rotatable relative to the helmet shell 7 about this common central axis DA. The tube 15.1 can move relative to the pin 15.2 in two opposite directions in parallel to this common central axis DA. The handwheel tube 18 is omitted in FIG. 7.

(44) The handwheel 14 is attached rotatably to the helmet shell 7, and it is attached indirectly by means of the handwheel tube 18, which is attached rotatably to the helmet shell 7, cf. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The handwheel tube 18 is non-rotatably connected to the tube 15.1 such that they rotate in unison, the connection being brought about by means of an inner profile of the handwheel tube 18 and of a corresponding outer profile of the tube 15.1, cf. FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

(45) The handwheel tube 18 comprises a plurality of circular projections, which extend in parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of circular projections, which enclose the longitudinal axis. The handwheel tube 18 is attached rotatably to the helmet shell 7, cf. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. A circular bead 20 is in contact with the helmet shell 7 and it encloses the handwheel tube 18, cf. FIG. 2 and FIG. 15. In one embodiment, this bead 20 holds, together with the circlip 48, the handwheel tube 18 at the helmet shell 7. In another embodiment, the handwheel tube 18 is held at the helmet shell 7 exclusively by the circlip 48.

(46) The identification plate 26 is located in a groove of the handwheel 14 and it likewise encloses the handwheel tube 18, cf. FIG. 2 and FIG. 15. The identification plate 26 may have a color code. The handwheel 14 and the handwheel tube 18 as well as the arched disk 34 may also have a color code each, so that a combination of up to four color codes is possible.

(47) The handwheel tube 18 can rotate relative to the helmet shell 7 about its own central axis DA, but it cannot be displaced linearly in parallel to its own central axis DA or in another direction, and it cannot, in particular, be displaced by a translatory movement. The viewing direction in FIG. 9 is an oblique direction to the outside from the helmet shell 7, i.e., the handwheel 14 is located behind the helmet shell 7 not shown in FIG. 9.

(48) Projections at the inner profile of the handwheel 14 mesh with corresponding recesses at the outer profile of the handwheel tube 18. As a result, the handwheel tube 18 is non-rotatably connected to the handwheel 14 such that they rotate in unison, i.e., a rotation of the handwheel 14 is transmitted to the handwheel tube 18 without an appreciable slip and it brings about a rotation of the handwheel tube 18.

(49) A rotation of the handwheel 14 is transmitted, in addition, to the fluted disk 19. Flutes of the disk 19 are moved during a rotation of the handwheel 14 over projections 27 at the bead 20 and they bring about an audible rattling or clicking (“acoustic feedback”). The O-ring 21 is inserted into a groove of the handwheel tube 18, specifically between the handwheel 14 and the fluted disk 19, cf. FIG. 15. The O-ring 21 can be compressed in a direction parallel to the common central axis DA and it expands again by itself, it brings about a rebound and makes it possible for the fluted disk 19 to be able to move relative to the handwheel tube 18 and in parallel to the central axis DA of the handwheel tube 18, so that the flutes of the disk 19 can slide over the projections 27.

(50) The tube (helmet shell-side transmission piece) 15.1 is guided on the inside by the handwheel tube 18. An outer profile of the tube 15.1 engages with an inner profile of the handwheel tube 18, and the outer profile and the inner profile have each the shape of a Swiss cross in this embodiment and they provide a cross fit. Thanks to these two profiles, which mesh with one another and therefore correspond to one another, the tube 15.1 is non-rotatably connected to the handwheel tube 18 in a positive-locking manner and such that they rotate in unison. A rotation of the handwheel 14 is transmitted therefore to the handwheel tube 18 and from the latter to the tube 15.1 without any appreciable slip and it brings about a rotation of the tube 15.1. The handwheel tube 18 is omitted in FIG. 7.

(51) The tube 15.1 can be displaced relative to the handwheel tube 18 and hence relative to the handwheel 14 linearly in a direction parallel to the common central axis DA in both directions. A plurality of stop elements 17.1, 17.2 at one end of the tube 15.1 limit a possible movement of the tube 15.1 towards the transmitting gear 10, 11, 12, cf. FIG. 8. It is made possible in one embodiment for the tube 15.1 to project over the handwheel 14 on the outside. In another embodiment, the handwheel 14 covers the tube 15.1.

(52) The pin (bearing ring-side transmission piece) 15.2 is located in the interior of the tube 15.1. An outer profile of the pin 15.2 engages with an inner profile of the tube 15.1. As a result, the pin 15.2 is non-rotatably connected to the tube 15.1 in a positive-locking manner and such that they rotate in unison. A rotation of the tube 15.1 brings about a rotation of the pin 15.2 without an appreciable slip. Projections on the outer profile of the pin 15.2 and corresponding projections on the inner profile of the tube 15.1 prevent the pin 15.2 from sliding out of the tube 15.1.

(53) The screw 16 is passed through a recess in the driving toothed gear 10 and it holds the toothed gear 10 and the disk 33 at the inner end of the pin 15.2 and at the inner end of the driving toothed gear 10. The driving toothed gear 10 is prevented hereby from sliding off from the pin 15.2.

(54) The driving toothed gear 10 is connected to the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r via the driving toothed gears 11 and 12. In one embodiment, the driving toothed gear 10 can move linearly in both directions parallel to its central axis DA relative to the pin 15.2, and the toothed gear 10 is permanently connected in another embodiment to the pin 15.2 by means of the screw 16. The pin 15.2 can move linearly relative to the tube 15.1 in parallel to the central axis DA. The tube 15.1 can move relative to the handwheel tube 18 in parallel to the central axis DA. The handwheel tube 18 and hence the handwheel 14 are attached to the helmet shell 7. The distance between the helmet shell 7 and the two rear bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r can consequently be changed by a multistep telescopic unit 18, 15.1, 15.2.

(55) FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show the following components of the handwheel 14: a round grip element 45, which comprises a plurality of outwardly pointing projections 44, two opposite projections 37 on the inside at the grip element 45 with the projections 44, four inwardly pointing projections 36, which act as reinforcing elements of the handwheel 14, and a stop element 40 in the form of a circular ring, cf. FIG. 15.

(56) FIG. 11, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show the following components of the handwheel tube 18: a tube element 30, which has an inner profile, which corresponds to the outer profile of the tube 15, two opposite projections 38 on the outer profile of the tube element 30, four outwardly pointing projections 35, which act as reinforcing elements of the handwheel tube 18, a stop element 39 in the form of a circular disk on the outside at the rear end of the tube element 30, cf. FIG. 15, and the outwardly arched disk 34, which closes the tube element 30 to the outside.

(57) The two projections 38 on the outside on the handwheel tube 18 mesh with two corresponding recesses on the projections 37 of the handwheel 14, cf. FIG. 11 through FIG. 14. A rotation of the handwheel 14 is transmitted by the elements 37 and 38 to the handwheel tube 18. The handwheel 14 is consequently non-rotatably connected to the handwheel tube 18 such that they rotate in unison.

(58) The handwheel tube 18 is connected rotatably to the helmet shell 7. The handwheel tube 18 can be rotated about its own rotation axis DA relative to the helmet shell 7, but it cannot carry out any other movement and it cannot especially carry out any linear movement in parallel to its own rotation axis DA. The circlip 48 also contributes to this, among other things.

(59) The handwheel 14 is not preferably connected directly to the helmet shell 7. The handwheel 14 is rather held by the handwheel tube 18. The handwheel 14 can move relative to the handwheel tube 18 in both directions in parallel to the common central axis DA. The two stop elements 39 and 40 limit a linear movement of the handwheel 14 away from the helmet shell 7. The stop element 40 of the handwheel 14 especially abuts against the stop element 39 of the handwheel tube 18 from the inside, cf. FIG. 15. The circular bead 20 limits a linear movement of the handwheel 14 towards the helmet shell 7, cf. FIG. 2.

(60) The identification ring 26 is clamped into a corresponding bead, which is located between the disk 34 and the tube element 30 of the handwheel tube 18, cf. FIG. 15.

(61) 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

(62) 1 Actuating unit for adjusting the head size; it comprises the handwheel 14, the handwheel tube 18, the fluted disk 19, the disks 34 and 26 and the O-ring 21 2 Centrally arranged front holding ring part, attached to the helmet shell 7; it is in contact with the shock-absorbing shell 6 3 Guide element for the rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r; attached to the helmet shell 7 4 Pivotable visor 5 Front bearing ring part, connected to the rear bearing ring parts 9.l, 9.r in an articulated manner 6 Shock-absorbing shell; it is located on the inside in the helmet shell 7; it absorbs kinetic energy 7 Arched helmet shell; it carries the holding ring 2 and the handwheel 14 8 Central rear bearing ring part in the form of a bearing support for the back of the head, arranged between the bearing ring parts 9.l and 9.r 9.l Left rear bearing ring part, connected to the front bearing ring part 5 in an articulated manner 9.r Right rear bearing ring, connected to the front bearing ring part 5 in an articulated manner 10 Driving toothed gear, connected to the handwheel 14 via a telescopic bar 15 11 Driven smaller toothed gear, meshing with the driving toothed gear 10 12 Driven larger toothed gear, connected permanently to the driven smaller toothed gear 11, meshing with the two toothed segments 13.l and 13.r 13 Toothed segment of the left rear bearing ring 9.l, in meshing engagement with the driven larger toothed gear 12 13.r Toothed segment of the right rear bearing ring 9.r, in meshing engagement with the driven larger toothed gear 12 14 Handwheel of the actuating unit 1; it accommodates in the interior the handwheel tube 18, comprises the grip element 45 with the projections 44 and the stop element 40 15 Telescopic bar, which connects the handwheel 14 to the driving toothed gear 10 15.1 Tube of the bar 15, guided on the inside by the handwheel tube 18, may project over the handwheel 14; is non-rotatably (torsion proof) connected to the pin 15.2 in a positive-locking manner such that they rotate in unison; acts as the helmet shell-side transmission piece 15.2 Pin of the bar 15; guided on the inside by the tube 15.1; non-rotatably (torsion proof) connected to the tube 15.1 in a positive-locking manner such that they rotate in unison; acts as the bearing ring-side transmission piece 16 Screw, which prevents the driving toothed gear 10 from sliding off from the pin 15.2; passed through the disk 33 17.1, 17.2, . . . Stop elements on the outside at the outer end of the tube 15.1; they limit a linear movement of the tube 15.1 towards the driving toothed gear 10 18 Handwheel tube, guided on the inside by the handwheel 14, by the fluted disk 19 and by the helmet shell 7; non-rotatably (torsion proof) connected to the tube 15.1 in a positive-locking manner such that they rotate in unison; held by the circlip 48 19 Fluted disk, non-rotatably (torsion proof) connected to the handwheel 14 such that they rotate in unison 20 Circular bead on the helmet shell 7; it encloses the handwheel tube 18, has projections 27 for the “acoustic feedback” when the handwheel 14 is being rotated 21 O-ring between the fluted disk 19 and the helmet shell 7 22.1, 22.2, . . . Stop elements on the inside at the handwheel tube 18; they correspond to the stop elements 17.1, 17.2, . . . . 23.1, 23.2, . . . Stop elements on the outside at the pin 15.2; they correspond to the stop elements 24.1, 24.2 24.1, 24.2, . . . Stop elements on the inside at the tube 15.1; they correspond to the stop elements 23.1, 23.2 25 Screw hole at the inner end of the pin 15.2 26 Identification plate; it encloses the handwheel tube 18; it is enclosed by the handwheel 14 27 Projections at the bead 20; they correspond to flutes on the fluted disk 19 28 Rigid intermediate piece between the front holding ring 2 and the front bearing ring part 5 29 Centrally arranged rear holding ring part, attached on the inside to the helmet shell 7 30 Tube element of the handwheel tube 18; it provides an inner profile 31.l Snap-in connection between the front bearing ring part 5 and the left rear bearing ring part 9.l 31.r Snap-in connection between the front bearing ring part 5 and the right rear bearing ring part 9.r 32 Additional visor, attached pivotably to the front holding ring part 2 33 Disk at the front end of the pin 15.2; permanently connected to the driving toothed gear 10 by means of the screw 16 34 Arched disk, which closes the handwheel tube 18; it holds the identification plate 26 together with the tube element 30 35 Projections of a first kind on the outside at the handwheel tube 18; they act as reinforcing elements and adjoin the fluted disk 19 36 Projections of a first kind on the inside at the handwheel 14; they act as reinforcing elements 37 Projections of a second kind on the inside at the handwheel 14; they receive the projections 38 and bring about the non-rotatably (torsion proof) connection to the handwheel tube 18 such that they rotate in unison 38 Projections of a second kind on the outside at the handwheel tube 18; they mesh with the projections 37, and bring about the non-rotatably (torsion proof) connection to the handwheel 14 such that they rotate in unison 39 Stop element on the outside at the handwheel tube 18 40 Circular ring at the handwheel 14; it acts as a stop element, which abuts against the stop element 39 44 Outwardly pointing projections at the round grip element 45 45 Round grip element of the handwheel 14; it comprises the projections 44 47 Sealing ring, placed around the handwheel tube 18 48 Circlip, placed around the handwheel tube 18 100 Safety helmet, comprises the helmet shell 7, the shock-absorbing shell 6, the front holding ring part 2, the rear holding ring part 29, the bearing ring with the bearing ring parts 5, 8, 9.l, 9.r and the actuating unit 1 BR Viewing direction of a user of the safety helmet 100, who is looking straight forward