Abstract
At least one embodiment relates to a configurable helmet comprising a shell, a padding portion coupled to the shell and comprising a first portion and a second portion, and a gap section disposed between these two portions. A spring is coupled at a first end to the first portion and at a second end to the second portion allowing for movement of the second portion with respect to the first portion to allowing size adjustment to fit a person's head. There can be an occipital pad coupled to the padding section, the occipital pad having an expanded portion for extending below an occipital bone on a person when they are wearing the helmet. There can be a visor adapter which is configured to secure a visor to a helmet, and having a clip configured to secure the visor adapter to said shell of the helmet.
Claims
11. A configurable helmet comprising: a shell; a padding portion disposed inside of said shell and being secured to said shell, wherein said padding portion comprises a first portion and a second portion and a gap section disposed between said first portion and said second portion; and at least one spring coupled at a first end to said first portion and at a second end to said second portion and extending across said gap section, said at least one spring allowing for a movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion of said padding portion to fit a person's head.
2. The configurable helmet as in claim 1, wherein said at least one spring comprises at least two springs with a first spring being disposed on a first side of said padding portion and a second spring being disposed on a second side of said padding portion.
3. The configurable helmet as in claim 1, wherein said at least one spring comprises a first body section, and a second body section and an elastic spring section comprising an elastomer, wherein said first body section is coupled to said first portion of said padding portion and said second body section is coupled to said second portion of said padding portion, and wherein said elastomer is configured to pull said first body section and said second body section together.
4. The configurable helmet as in claim 3, wherein said first body section of said spring comprises a plurality of locking blocks, and said second body section comprises at least one locking block, wherein said elastomer is configured to be adjustable in tension based upon its placement on said locking blocks on said first body section and said second body section.
5. The configurable helmet as in claim 4, wherein said first body section comprises at least one wing, and said second body section comprises at least one wing, wherein said at least one wing on said first body section is for securing said first body section to said first portion of said padding portion, and said at least one wing on said second body section is for securing said second body section to said second portion on said padding portion.
6. The configurable helmet as in claim 3, further comprising at least one shaft wherein said first body section and said second body section are slidable on said shaft.
7. The configurable helmet as in claim 1, further comprising an occipital pad coupled to said padding portion, wherein said occipital pad is configured to sit below an occipital bone on a person's head when the person places the helmet on their head, and wherein said occipital pad comprises a wider bottom section to secure the pad below the occipital bone on a person's skull.
8. The configurable helmet as in claim 1, further comprising a visor adapter, said visor adapter configured to be secured to a helmet and configured to couple a visor to said visor adapter and to said helmet, wherein said visor adapter comprises at least one clip configured to secure said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet.
9. The configurable helmet as in claim 8, wherein said visor adapter further comprises at least one adhesive, said at least one adhesive configured to said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet.
10. The configurable helmet as in claim 9, wherein said visor adapter comprises at least one tab, said at least one tab configured to interact with at least one tab slot on a visor to secure the visor against rotation with respect to a helmet.
11. A configurable helmet comprising: a shell; a padding portion disposed inside of said shell; and at least one occipital pad coupled to said padding portion, said at least one occipital pad having an expanded portion for extending below an occipital bone on a person when the person is wearing the helmet.
12. The configurable helmet as in claim 11, wherein said at least one occipital pad further comprises a fastener for coupling said occipital pad to said padding portion on said helmet.
13. The configurable helmet as in claim 11, wherein said expanded portion is thicker than an adjacent portion on the occipital pad, and wherein said expanded portion sits below the adjacent portion when a person is positioned upright and wearing the helmet.
14. The configurable helmet as in claim 11, wherein said padding portion is disposed inside of said shell and being coupled to said shell, wherein said padding portion comprises a first portion and a second portion and a gap section disposed between said first portion and said second portion, and wherein the helmet further comprises at least one spring coupled at a first end to said first portion and at a second end to said second portion and extending across said gap section, said at least one spring allowing for the movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion of said padding portion to fit a person's head.
15. The configurable helmet as in claim 14, further comprising a visor adapter, said visor adapter configured to be secured to a helmet and configured to couple a visor to said visor adapter and to said helmet, wherein said visor adapter comprises at least one clip configured to secure said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet.
16. A configurable helmet comprising: a shell; a padding portion; and a visor adapter, said visor adapter configured to secure a visor to a helmet, said visor adapter comprising at least one clip configured to secure said visor adapter to said shell of said helmet.
17. The configurable helmet as in claim 16, wherein said visor adapter further comprises at least one additional clip, wherein said clip and said at least one additional clip are substantially U-shaped.
18. The configurable helmet as in claim 16, wherein said visor adapter comprises: at least one visor band; at least one additional clip; at least one adhesive; and at least one tab; wherein said at least one clip and said at least one additional clip are coupled to said at least one visor band and are configured to couple said at least one visor band to said shell of said helmet, and wherein said at least one adhesive is configured to couple said at least one visor band to said shell of said helmet, and wherein said at least one tab is configured to slide through at least one tab slot on a visor to secure the visor against rotation with respect to the helmet.
19. The configurable helmet as in claim 16, further comprising an occipital pad, wherein said occipital pad is coupled to said padding portion on the helmet and wherein said occipital pad is configured to sit below an occipital bone on a person when the person is wearing the helmet.
20. The configurable helmet as in claim 16, wherein said padding portion comprises a first portion and a second portion and a gap section disposed between said first portion and said second portion; and wherein the helmet further comprises at least one spring coupled at a first end to said first portion and at a second end to said second portion and extending across said gap section, said at least one spring allowing for the movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion of said padding portion to fit a person's head.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
[0008] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
[0009] FIG. 1A is a front view of the helmet;
[0010] FIG. 1B is a side view of the helmet;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the helmet worn by a person;
[0012] FIG. 2B is another perspective view of a helmet worn by a person;
[0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of a helmet;
[0014] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the helmet of FIG. 3A;
[0015] FIG. 4A is a side view of a helmet with a helmet insert disposed therein;
[0016] FIG. 4B is a top view of a helmet insert;
[0017] FIG. 5A is a side view of a helmet insert with an elastic spring;
[0018] FIG. 5B is an opposite sideview of a helmet insert with an elastic spring;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a top view of the helmet insert;
[0020] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the helmet insert having the spring and a hinge;
[0021] FIG. 7B is a view of the helmet insert inside of a helmet;
[0022] FIG. 8A is a view of a first embodiment of a spring;
[0023] FIG. 8B is a side view of a second embodiment of a spring;
[0024] FIG. 8C is an end view of the spring of FIG. 8B;
[0025] FIG. 8D is an outside perspective view of a spring;
[0026] FIG. 9A is a view of a hinge;
[0027] FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a portion of the hinge of FIG. 9A;
[0028] FIG. 9C is an end view of the hinge;
[0029] FIG. 10A is a top view of a visor bracket
[0030] FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a visor bracket;
[0031] FIG. 11A is a front view of a visor bracket;
[0032] FIG. 11B is a cut away inside view of a visor bracket;
[0033] FIG. 12A is a perspective view of an occipital pad;
[0034] FIG. 12B is a bottom view of the occipital pad;
[0035] FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 12D;
[0036] FIG. 12D is a top view of the occipital pad;
[0037] FIG. 12E is a back view of the occipital pad;
[0038] FIG. 13A is a top view of a helmet with a visor adapter;
[0039] FIG. 13B is a front view of a helmet with a visor adapter;
[0040] FIG. 14 is a side view of a second embodiment of a helmet with a visor adapter;
[0041] FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of a visor a visor adapter and a helmet;
[0042] FIG. 16A is a view of a kid for putting the visor adapter on a helmet; and
[0043] FIG. 16B is a top view of the visor adapter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0044] Turning in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1A is a front view of the helmet. In this view, the outer shell 11, the front rim 12, the inner padding 14, the ear pad 15, the back pad 16, and the ear pad 17 are shown. FIG. 1B is a side view of the helmet, which shows shell 11, rim 12, and screw holes 18 and 19 for securing a chin strap or other device.
[0045] FIG. 2A is a bottom-front perspective view of the helmet worn by a person. This view shows the helmet shell 11, the person's head 9, screw holes 18 and 19, as well as the back pad 16, which is positioned adjacent to the person's occipital bone. FIG. 2B is another perspective view of a helmet worn by a person 9, which shows screw holes 18 and 19 on the helmet 10.
[0046] FIG. 3A is a side view of another embodiment of a helmet 20. This helmet 20 includes a casing or shell 21, holes 22, a visor 100, screw holes 28 and 29 in the helmet to secure the visor 100. There is also at least one tab 87.4 extending through an opening in visor 100 to secure visor 100 to the helmet. There is also shown a back or occipital pad 26 positioned in a rear portion of the helmet. This occipital pad 26 is configured to be positioned below and/or adjacent to the occipital bone of a person's skull. FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the helmet of FIG. 3A. In this view, shell 21 is shown as well as occipital pad 26 positioned inside the shell 21 towards the back portion of the helmet. There is also shown interior padding 24 as well as strap 27 and visor 100.
[0047] FIG. 4A is a side view of a helmet with a helmet insert disposed therein. The helmet insert 30 has a body section 31, having a front or first portion 31.1 and a back or second portion 31.2. There is a gap section 40 positioned between the first portion 31.1 and the second portion 31.2. There is also a slot 41, which is configured to receive an elastic band or spring device, which is configured to selectively draw the front portion 31.1 towards the back portion, or the back portion towards the front portion. The spring that rests inside of slot 41 then allows for the lateral expansion of the insert or inner padding 30 to fit a user's head.
[0048] FIG. 4B is a top view of a helmet insert or padding 30, which shows the padding portion or section 31, as well as slots 44 and 46. Slots 44 and 46 extend between front portion 31.1 and back portion 31.2. These slots 44 and 46 are configured to receive hinges therein to allow the back portion 31.2 to extend and/or rotate away from the front portion 31.1.
[0049] FIG. 5A is a side view of a helmet inner padding 30 having a padding section 31 having a front portion 31.1 and a back portion 31.2. The front portion 31.1 has a hole 35.1, while the back portion also has a hole 35.3. These holes are for coupling with screws, which run from the outer shell of the helmet to an interior region. Extending from a front portion 31.1 to a back portion 31.2 is spring 60 having an elastic section 65, in the form of an elastic band, rubber band, or elastomer section 65. FIG. 5B is an opposite side view of a helmet insert with an elastic spring, which shows spring 60 having elastomeric section 65 as well as back pad 26, and holes 35.2 and 35.4 for receiving screws. There is also a gap 40, which is positioned between the front portion 31.1 and the back portion 31.2.
[0050] FIG. 6 is a top view of the helmet inner padding 30, which includes a padding section 31 having a front portion 31.1 and a back portion 31.2. There are also shown holes 32.1 and 32.2 as well as vents 33.1 and 33.2. Padding section 31 also includes holes 34.1, 34.2, 34.3, and 34.4. There are also additional holes 36, 37, 38, and 39. There are also shown screws 135.1, 135.2, 135.3, and 135.4, which are configured to fit inside holes 35.1, 35.2, 35.3, and 35.4, respectively. These screws are configured to couple the inner padding 30 to the outer helmet as well as couple the chin strap 27 (See FIG. 3B) to the helmet as well. There are also shown hinges 70, which include a first hinge 70.1 and a second hinge 70.2. These hinges allow the back portion 31.2 to rotate vs. the front portion 31.1 so that the bottom area of the back portion 31.2 can rotate away from the front portion 31.1 to expand the area for the user's head as it sides into the helmet.
[0051] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the helmet insert having the spring and a hinge. The padded section 31 includes the front portion 31.1 and the back portion 31.2. Spring 60 is shown having an elastic section 65 as well as hinges 70.1 and 70.2. Gap 40 is shown between front portion 31.1 and back portion 31.2. Screws 135.1 and 135.2 are also shown.
[0052] FIG. 7B is a view of the helmet insert inside of a helmet having outer shell 11. For example, the padding section 31 is shown sitting inside the shell 11 with the front portion 31.1. being separated from the back portion 31.2. Spring 60 is shown having an elastic portion or section 65. An arrow positioned below spring 60 shows the lateral movement of the two different portions 31.1 and 31.2. Back pad or occipital pad 26 is shown coupled to back portion 31.2. Screw holes 35.1 and 35.2 are also shown.
FIG. 8A is a view of a first embodiment of a spring 50, which shows a first section 51, a spring or elastomer section 52, and a second section 53. First section 51 is pulled towards second section 53 via the spring force of spring or elastomer section 52. FIG. 8B is a side view of a second embodiment of a spring 60, which shows a first portion 61 and a second portion 66. First portion 61 has wings 62.1, 62.2, 63.1, 63.2, as well as spring locks 64.1 and 64.2, which are formed as locking blocks. Joining the two portions or sections 61 and 66 is a telescoping strip 65.1. There is also an elastic spring 65, which is made from an elastomeric material such as a rubber band. Second section 66 also includes wings 68.1 and 68.2, as well as wings 69.1 and 69.2. There are locking blocks 67.1 and 67.2 configured to lock to spring or elastic section 65 as well. There are two blocks on each of the first section and the second section 66 so that the tension on spring or elastic section 65 is adjustable.
FIG. 8C is an end view of the spring 60 of FIG. 8B showing the first portion 61.
FIG. 8D is an outside perspective view of a spring 60 showing the first portion 61 and the second portion 66, as well as the elastic spring section 65 shown therein.
FIG. 9A is a view of a hinge 70. Spring 70 has a plurality of wings 71.1 and 71.2, as well as wings 73.1 and 73.2 at a first end. This first end also includes a shaft 75. A plurality of blocks 72.1 and 72.2, as well as 74.1 and 74.2, surround wings 73.1 and 73.2 and are configured to lock these wings into place in the padding section 31, such as the first portion 31.1. There is a second end to the hinge, which includes shaft 77, as well as wings 79.1, 79.2, and wings 171.1 and 171.2. Blocks 78.1, 78.2, 170.1, and 170.2 surround wings 79.1 and 79.2, respectively, to lock these wings into place to the second or back portion 31.2.
FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the first portion of the hinge of FIG. 9A. This portion includes shaft 75, post 76, as well as wings 73.2 and 73.1, and wings 71.1 and 71.2. Post 76 is configured to fit inside a female receptacle inside of shaft 77, thereby allowing the first portion of the hinge to rotate vs. the second portion of the hinge. FIG. 9C is an end view of the hinge; this end view shows wings 73.1 and 73.2 as well as shaft 75 and post 76.
[0053] FIG. 10A is a top view of a visor bracket 80. Visor bracket 80 includes a band body 81 as well as clips 82, 83, and 89 coupled to the band body 81. Coupled to the ends of the band body 81 are flared out regions 84 and 86, which support tabs 85.1 and 87.1, respectively.
[0054] FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a visor bracket 80, this view shows band body 81 having clips 82 and 83 coupled thereto. There is also shown flared out regions 84 and 86. On flared out region 84, there are tabs 85.1, 85.2, and 85.4 which are configured to lock to a respective hole on a visor. There is also an opening 85.3 in the band body 81, which allows for a screw to fit therethrough. Flared out region 86 includes an indented portion 86.1 which exposes a hole 87.3 for receiving a screw therethrough.
FIG. 11A is a front view of a visor bracket 80 which shows band body 81, clips or locks 82 and 83 and 89 coupled to the band body 81. These clips are configured to extend up into an inside portion of a shell, such as shell 11 or shell 21 of a corresponding helmet, to lock the band body 81 to the helmet. There are also tabs 85.1, 85.2, and 85.4 as well as tabs 87.1, 87.2, and 87.4. These tabs are configured to lock the visor in a set position against lateral rotational movement when the visor is locked to the visor bracket.
FIG. 11B is a cut-away inside view of a visor bracket. This view shows end section 86 having an indented portion 88, having a screw hole 87.3 therein to receive a screw. That screw would then extend through a screw hole, such as screw hole 18 or 28, on an associated helmet. The screw would also extend through an associated screw hole 35.1 on a padding portion or section 31. In this view, there is also shown clip 83, which has a flared-out flange portion for extending inside the shell of a helmet.
FIG. 12A is a perspective view of an occipital pad 26. This occipital pad 26 is configured to have a central body portion 261 and wings 262 and 263. FIG. 12B is a bottom view of the occipital pad, which shows body portion 261 and wings 262 and 263.
FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 12D, which shows that the body portion 261 has a thicker bottom portion along the cross-sectional portion 264, wherein there is an angled portion 265 which leads to the thicker portion 266 of the occipital pad. This thicker portion rests below the occipital bone of a user's head to secure the helmet in place and to prevent the helmet from moving around on the user's head.
[0055] FIG. 12D is a top view of the occipital pad 26, which shows cross-sectional line A-A.
[0056] FIG. 12E is a back view of the occipital pad which shows body portion 261, as well as wings 262, and 263, and an occipital pad fastener 268 which can be in the form of any suitable fastener to secure the occipital pad to either the inside of a helmet shell such as shell 11 or shell 21 or to an adjacent portion of inner padding 30.
[0057] FIG. 13A is a top view of a helmet with a visor adapter. In this view, there is a helmet 10 having a shell 11, which is configured to receive a visor adapter 80. This top view of the visor adapter 80 shows the end sections or regions 84 and 86, along the body portion, there are clips 82, 83, and 89. There are also adhesive pads 111 and 112, which are configured to fix the visor adapter 80 to the front end or front rim of the helmet shell 11. Therefore, for fixing the visor adapter 80 to the shell, the clips 82 and 83 secure underneath the shell, and then press the visor adapter 80 to the shell of the helmet.
FIG. 13B is a front view of a helmet with a visor adapter having body section 81, flared end section 84, with tabs 85.1 and 85.4. Clips 82, 83, and 89 are shown, while the opposite flared section or region 86 having tabs 87.1 and 87.4 are also shown.
FIG. 13C shows a cross-sectional view of a helmet shell 11, 21 which has band section 81 clipped and held to the shell with any one of clips 82, 83, and/or 89. These clips, therefore, keep the band section close to the outer shell 11 or 21 while also being held there by screws and the adhesive pads.
FIG. 14 is a side view of a second embodiment of a helmet with a visor adapter 80 having a band body 81 extending around shell 21. Clip 83 is shown coupled to band body 81 and as shown in FIG. 13C is configured to secure the band body 81 to the shell 21. The helmet shows screw holes 28 and 29 for securing strap 27, these screw holes 28 and 29 are configured to receive screws 114 and 115 therein. Screw 114 is configured to extend through opening 87.3 disposed between tabs 87.1 and 87.2. This view also shows occipital pad 26 extending out from the back end of helmet shell 21.
FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of a visor, a visor adapter, and a helmet. In this view, there is shown a visor 100 which has a body section 101, and which has tab slots 105 and 106 extending substantially parallel to each other, wherein tab slot 106 has a screw hole 107 extending therethrough. Screw hole 107 is configured to receive a screw 114 extending through screw hole 107, extending through screw hole 87.3 and through screw hole 28 on shell 21 to secure the visor to the visor adapter 80 and secure the visor adapter 80 to the helmet or shell 21. Thus, the visor 100 is secured to the visor adapter 80 via the screw 114, as well as having tabs 87.1 and 87.2 extending through tab slot 106, while tab 87.4 extends through tab slot 105 to secure visor 100 against any additional movement, particularly rotational movement vs. the visor adapter 80 and shell 21.
[0058] FIG. 17A is a view of a kit 110 for attaching the visor adapter to a helmet, for example. The kit 110 includes adhesive pads 111, 112, and 113, which are used to secure the adapter 80 to the helmet shell as described above. There are also screws 114 and 115 for securing the adapter 80 through the associated screw holes 18, 28 on either side of the helmet shell. There are clips such as clips 82 and 83, which are U-shaped clips that are configured to secure the visor adapter 80 to the shell of the helmet. There are also wipes 118, which are configured to wipe down the shell of the helmet before the adhesive pads 111, 112, and 113 are applied. There is also a screwdriver 119 which is configured to screw in screws 114 and 115 into the holes 18, 28 on a helmet.
[0059] FIG. 17B is a top view of the visor adapter showing body 81, clips 82, 83, and 89, adhesive pads 111, 112, and 113, as well as screws 114 and 115 being applied through respective screw holes to secure the adapter 80 to an adjacent helmet.
[0060] Thus, an adjustable helmet is created that can be expanded as needed through springs 60, and hinges 70 flexibly secure a front portion 31.1 to a back portion 31.2 of a helmet pad. In addition, there is also shown an occipital pad 26 which is configured to secure the helmet to a person's head and expand to a wider portion below the occipital bone on a person's head to secure the helmet to a person's head. Furthermore, there is shown a visor adapter 80 which is configured to allow any suitable visor to be secured to any suitable helmet by using a kit 110 having clips, adhesive pads, and screws to secure the visor adapter 80 to the helmet and the visor 100 to the visor adapter 80.
[0061] While the adjustable helmet, which is expandable with springs and hinges, has been shown together with the occipital pad and the visor adapter, each of these three embodiments can be implemented separately from the other, such that at least one embodiment is an expandable helmet alone, another embodiment is an occipital pad alone, and another embodiment is a visor adapter alone. Alternatively, each of these embodiments can be combined with each other or with other embodiments.
[0062] Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
