Visor for Helmut

Abstract

A visor for a helmet is disclosed. The visor includes a transparent structure having a pair of lateral edges, and a protector coupled to one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure. The protector is made of soft material to protect a nose or chin of a user from any potential cut.

Claims

1. A visor for a helmet, comprising: a transparent structure having a pair of lateral edges; and a protector coupled to one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure, wherein the protector is made of soft material to protect a nose or chin of a user from any potential cut.

2. The visor of claim 1, wherein the transparent structure is pivotally coupled to a body of the helmet.

3. The visor of claim 1, wherein the protector extends along an entire length of the one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure.

4. The visor of claim 1, wherein the protector extends along a portion of the one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure.

5. The visor of claim 1, wherein the protector is made of rubber.

6. The visor of claim 1, wherein the protector is made of polyurethane, silicon, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, fluoro-silicone rubber, or any combination thereof.

7. The visor of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the protector is between 1 millimeter and 5 millimeters.

8. A helmet, comprising: a body defining a cavity to receive a head of a user; and a visor attached to the body and including a transparent structure having a pair of lateral edges, and a protector coupled to one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure, wherein the protector is made of soft material to protect a nose or chin of a user from any potential cut.

9. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the transparent structure is pivotally coupled to a body of the helmet.

10. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the protector extends along an entire length of the one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure.

11. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the protector extends along a portion of the one of the pair of lateral edges of the transparent structure.

12. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the protector is made of rubber.

13. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the protector is made of polyurethane, silicon, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, fluoro-silicone rubber, or any combination thereof.

14. The helmet of claim 8, wherein a thickness of the protector is between 1 millimeter and 5 millimeters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a helmet having a visor, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a helmet having a visor, in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Example embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the drawings, the sizes, positions, etc., of components, features, elements, etc., as well as any distances therebetween, are not necessarily to scale, and may be disproportionate and/or exaggerated for clarity.

[0020] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be recognized that the terms comprise, comprises, and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless otherwise specified, a range of values, when recited, includes both the upper and lower limits of the range, as well as any sub-ranges therebetween. Unless indicated otherwise, terms such as first, second, etc., are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, one element could be termed a first element and similarly, another element could be termed a second element, or vice versa. The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

[0021] Unless indicated otherwise, the terms about, thereabout, substantially, etc. mean that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art.

[0022] Spatially relative terms, such as right, left, below, beneath, lower, above, and upper, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature, as illustrated in the drawings. It should be recognized that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if an object in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented above the other elements or features. Thus, the term below can, for example, encompass both an orientation of above and below. An object may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

[0023] Unless clearly indicated otherwise, all connections and all operative connections may be direct or indirect. Similarly, unless clearly indicated otherwise, all connections and all operative connections may be rigid or non-rigid.

[0024] Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thus, the same or similar numbers may be described with reference to other drawings even if they are neither mentioned nor described in the corresponding drawing. Also, even elements that are not denoted by reference numbers may be described with reference to other drawings.

[0025] Many different forms and embodiments are possible without deviating from the spirit and teachings of this disclosure and so this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0026] Reference in this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase in one embodiment in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a helmet 100 configured to be worn over a head of a user is shown. The helmet 100 may be worn by the user over his head while playing a game, such as, ice hockey, hockey or while riding a bike. The helmet 100 is configured to protect the user from any potential injuries happening/occurring due to hitting of the head to any hard surface, such as, sticks, surface/road or other user. As shown, the helmet 100 includes a body 102 defining a cavity 104 to receive the head of the user and a visor/shield 110 pivotally coupled to the body 102 of the helmet 100, and selectively covering an opening 112 of the cavity 104. The body 102 is designed to wrap around the head of the user to protect any potential injuries to the head of the user. Although pivotable coupling of the visor 110 with the body 102 of the helmet 100 is contemplated, it may be appreciated that the visor 110 may be non-movably attached to the body 102, covering the opening 112 of the cavity 104.

[0028] Further, the visor 110 is arranged to be pivoted between an open position and a cover position relative to the body 102. In the open position, the visor 110 is arranged away from the opening 112 i.e., away from the face of the wearer, providing an access of the cavity 104 through the opening 112, while in the cover position, the visor 110 is arranged in-front of the face of the wearer, i.e., covering the opening 112, thereby preventing the access of the cavity 104 through the opening 112. Accordingly, in the cover position, the visor 110, when the helmet 100 is arranged on the head of the user, is arranged covering at least a portion of a face (i.e., forehead, eyes and a portion of nose) of the user to protect any potential injuries to the face (i.e., eyes) of the user. It may be appreciated that the visor 110 may be made of a transparent material, such as, suitable polymer or glass material to enable visibility through the visor 110.

[0029] The visor 110 includes transparent structure 120 having a substantially arcuate shape, and a protector 122 attached to the transparent structure. As shown, the transparent structure includes a pair of lateral edges 128, 130, and a pair of longitudinal edges 132, 134 extending between the pair of lateral edges 128, 130 and connecting the pair of lateral edges 128, 130. The pair of lateral edges 128, 130 extend along a width of a face of user when the helmet 100 is arranged on a head of the user and the visor 110 is arranged in the cover position, while the pair of longitudinal edges 132, 134 extend along a length of a face of the user when the helmet 100 is arranged on the head of the user and the visor 110 is arranged in the cover position.

[0030] The pair of lateral edges 128, 130 includes a first lateral edge 128, i.e., upper edge 128, arranged proximate to the forehead of the user wearing the helmet relative to a second lateral edge 130 i.e., lower edge 130. The lower edge 130 is adapted to be arranged proximate to a nose of the wearer with the visor 110 arranged at the cover position. In the embodiments, the visor 110 is selected such that the visor 110 contacts nose or chin of the user when the helmet 100 is arranged on the head of the user with visor 110 arranged at the cover position.

[0031] Accordingly, to protect the nose or the chin or any other facial feature or part of the user from any potential cut due to abrasion from the visor 110, the visor 100 includes the protector 122 attached/coupled to the lower edge 130 of the transparent structure 120. As shown, the protector 122 is wrapped snuggly around the entire lower edge 130 of the transparent structure 120. In an embodiment, the protector 122 is removably coupled to the lower edge 130 of the transparent structure 120. In such a case, the protector 122 may include an elongated groove extending along a length of the protector 122 and with an opening of the elongated groove defined at a surface of the protector 122. The opening extends along the length of the groove. The protector 122 is attached to the transparent structure 120 by inserting the lower edge 128 of the transparent structure 120 inside the groove through the opening. In some embodiments, an adhesive may be utilized to securely engage the protector 122 to the transparent structure 120. In some embodiments, the protector 122 is formed on the transparent structure 120 by dipping the lower edge 128 of the transparent structure 120 inside a solution of the material of the protector 122, spraying the material of the protector 122 on the lower edge 128 of the transparent structure 120, molding the protector 122 on the transparent structure 120, or any other suitable means known in the art. In some embodiments, the protector 122 may be pressed or fused to the transparent structure 120 by any suitable method known in the art. It may be envisioned that before attaching or forming the protector 122 on the lower edge 128 of the transparent structure 120, surfaces of the transparent structure 120 disposed adjacent to the lower edge 120 is roughened or chamfered or beveled to enable a secure engagement of the protector 122 with the transparent structure 120.

[0032] In an embodiment, the protector 122 is made of a suitable soft material, such as, rubber or plastic to provide cushioning to the nose of the user. In some embodiments, the protector is made of polyurethane, silicone, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, Neoprene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, Viton (FKM), hydrogenated nitrile rubber, fluoro-silicone rubber, or any combination thereof. In some embodiment, the protector 122 may include a thickness that vary between 1 millimeter and 5 millimeters. The thickness may be the extension of the protector 122 below the lower edge 128 of the transparent structure 120. It may be envisioned that the thickness of the protector 122 is selected such that there is minimum or zero disruption to a vision to the wearer of the helmet 100 by the protector 122.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 2, an alternative helmet 200 is shown, according to an example embodiment of the disclosure. The helmet 200 is similar to the helmet 100 except that a visor 210 of the helmet 200 is different from the visor 110 of the helmet 100 in that a protector 222 of the visor 210 is smaller and is attached to a central portion of the lower edge 128 of the transparent structure. The protector 222 corresponds to a location of the nose of a wearer, accordingly, includes dimensions to contact the nose of the wearer to protect the nose of the wearer from cut.

[0034] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the aspects of the disclosed embodiments.