Protective Headgear

Abstract

A liner (10) for fitting within a headcap to provide a degree of impact protection, said liner comprising a generally concave shell for receiving a wearer's head, in use, and having a top section (16), a front section (12) and a rear section (14), and a pair of side panels extending downward from, and integrally formed with, respective side edges of said top section (16), wherein a first slot (14a) is provided on each side of said rear section (14), extending from a side edge thereof to a hinge portion (14b) located between said top portion (16) and said rear section (14), and a second slot (12a) is provided on each side of said front section (12) extending from a side edge thereof to a hinge portion (12b) located between said top portion (16) and said front section (12).

Claims

1. A liner for fitting within a headcap to provide a degree of impact protection, said liner comprising a generally concave shell for receiving a wearer's head, in use, and having a top section, a front section and a rear section, and a pair of side panels extending downward from, and integrally formed with, respective side edges of said top section, wherein a first slot is provided on each side of said rear section, extending from a side edge thereof to a hinge portion located between said top portion and said rear section, and a second slot is provided on each side of said front section extending from a side edge thereof to a hinge portion located between said top portion and said front section.

2. A liner according to claim 1, wherein each second slot extends downward from its open end at said side edge of said front section, between said front section and a respective side panel.

3. A liner according to claim 1, wherein the width of said second slot increases uniformly along its length from said respective hinge portion.

4. A liner according to claim 1, wherein a third slot is provided in each side panel that extends upwardly from a rim thereof.

5. A liner according to claim 4, wherein said third slot extends upwardly from a generally central location along the rim of said side panel.

6. A liner according to claim 4, wherein the third slot extends from the rim of the side panel along at least half of its length.

7. A liner according to claim 1, formed of a resiliently flexible material that, in use, permits a degree of resilient flexing at the joins between the top, front and rear sections and the side panels as defined by the first and second slots.

8. A liner according to claim 7, formed of a plastics material.

9. A liner according to claim 1, wherein each side panel comprises one or more ventilation holes.

10. A liner according to claim 9, wherein each side panel comprises a pattern of ventilation holes that extends from a point adjacent to the integral connection between the respective side panel and the top section along a portion of the length thereof, said pattern including an uninterrupted portion that extends along a substantial portion of the width of the respective side panel.

11. A liner according to claim 1, wherein the top section includes at least one raised rib on its outer surface.

12. A liner according to claim 11, wherein the outer surface of the top section is provided with a plurality of substantially parallel, raised ribs extending between the front and rear sections.

13. A liner according to claim 12, wherein ventilation holes are provided in the ribs.

14. A liner according to claim 13, wherein each rib is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart ventilation holes along its length.

15. A liner according to claim 1, wherein a portion of cushioning material is provided on the inner surface of the top section.

16. A liner according to claim 15, wherein said portion of cushioning material comprises an expanded polypropylene (EPP) impact pad.

17. (canceled)

18. A headcap incorporating a liner according to claim 1.

19. A kit comprising a headcap and a liner according to claim 1, for insertion into, and engagement with, said headcap.

Description

[0019] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following specific description in which an embodiment of the present invention is described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective side view of a liner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the liner of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the liner of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the liner of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the liner of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a soft cap incorporating a liner according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0026] FIG. 7 is an inside plan view of the soft cap of FIG. 6.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a liner 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a generally dome-shaped shell of concave configuration for receiving a wearer's head, in use. The shell comprises a front portion 12, a rear portion 14 and a top portion 16. The front portion 12 is defined by a pair of slots 12a formed either side thereof, each slot extending inwardly from a respective side edge thereof and terminating at a generally central hinge portion 12b between the top portion 16 and the front portion 12. The rim of the front portion 12 is provided with grooves or slots 12c, so as to define a profiled edge intended to enable the liner 10 to be inserted into, and engage with, a soft cap.

[0028] Referring additionally to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the rear portion 14 is shorter than the front portion 12, i.e. the front portion 12 extends down from the top section 16 by a greater amount than the rear portion 14. The rear portion 14 is defined by a pair of slots 14a on either side thereof, wherein each slot 14a extends from a respective side edge of the rear portion 14, along its top edge, and terminates at a generally central hinge portion 14b between the top portion 16 and the rear portion 14.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the top portion 16, which provides crown impact protection, in use, has an outer convex surface provided with a plurality of substantially parallel, raised ribs 18 between the front and rear portions 12, 14. Each rib 18 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 22 in spaced apart relation along their length. Corresponding ribs 18a, 18b are provided on the front and rear portions 12, 14 respectively.

[0030] Referring additionally to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the liner 10 comprises a pair of side panels 24, wherein each side panel is integrally formed with, and extends downwardly from a side edge of the top portion 16. It can be seen from FIG. 5 of the drawings that an elongate gap 20 is provided between the front portion 12 and each respective side panel 24, wherein the gap 20 extends from the open end of a respective slot 12a and increases substantially uniformly in width along the length of the side panel. Similarly, a gap 21 is provided between the rear portion 14 and a respective side panel 24, which extends from the open end of the slot 14a and increases in width substantially uniformly along its length. The gap 21 extends into a cutaway portion 21a between the side panel and the top portion 16, to further increase adjustability. A cutaway portion 28 is provided on each side of the top portion 16, close to its rear end, to further increase ventilation and reduce the amount of material used and, therefore, the weight of the liner 10. Further cutaway portions 30 may be provided, for example, in the front portion 12 for the same reason. A pair of connector apertures 32a, 32b is provided at opposing ends of the top portion 16 for the purpose of enabling the liner to be attached within a soft cap.

[0031] A further slot 34 is provided in each side panel 24, which extends from a generally central location at the lower edge thereof, upwards to a point at least half way along its length, thereby further increasing the degree of adjustability provided by the assembly. A pattern of ventilation holes 36 is provided on each side panel 24. It can be seen that, due to the configuration of the overall assembly, and the manner in which the side panels and top portion are configured relative to each other in particular, that the pattern of ventilation holes 36 can occupy a relatively large surface area of each side panel 24. Part of the pattern extends across a substantial portion of the width of the entire side panel, and the remaining portion of the pattern extends down a substantial proportion of the side panel, thereby maximising the degree of ventilation offered and comfort offered, without significant detrimental effect on the performance of the side panels in terms of side impact protection. The lower edge of each side panel is profiled to enable the liner 10 to be inserted into, and engage with, a soft cap.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, in use, the liner 10 is inserted into a soft cap 40, whereby the profiled edges of the front portion 12 and the side panels 24 engage with the soft cap via an inner, circumferential hem or channel (not shown). An impact pad 42 is provided on the inner surface of the top portion of the liner, for additional comfort and protection, in use. The impact pad 42 is formed, in this exemplary embodiment, of expanded PolyPropylene (EPP) which enables it to be somewhat smaller and thinner than conventional foam impact pads provided in prior art arrangements. An additional sweat liner 44 may also be provided for additional user comfort.

[0033] Overall, aspects of the present invention provide a liner that is lighter in weight than those proposed in the prior art, without significant detriment to the overall impact protection performance thereof. In addition, greater provision for ventilation is made possible by the overall configuration of the liner, and the ability for adjustment is maximised, again without detriment to the overall performance of the liner.

[0034] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, from the foregoing description, that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.