GOGGLE BRACE FOR A HELMET

Abstract

The present invention relates to a goggle brace for a helmet. The brace includes a first bracket and an extension member. The first bracket includes a first resting member and a first supporting member. The first supporting member enables integrating the brace within the helmet. The extension member has a hole. The brace is attached on the inner surface of the helmet by a fastening member. The goggles is made to rest over the resting member. The goggles is tightened over the braces through a strap. The ends of the strap are attached to the edges of the goggles and other ends of the strap are attached over the rear surface of the helmet though a single strap or two or more buckles or latches.

Claims

1. A goggle brace (100) for providing a resting surface for at least one edge (306 or 308) of a goggle (300) within a helmet (200) comprising: a first bracket (102) having a first resting member (106) and a first supporting member (108) forming a wedge shape thereof; an extension member (104) that extends linearly from the first supporting member (108) and is provided without or with a hole (110) configured at an end thereof at a predefined linear distance from a surface of the first resting member (106); wherein the goggle brace (100) is attached to the helmet (200) by arranging the hole (110) over a hole made within the helmet (200) by inserting a fastening member (114) therethrough; and wherein the first supporting member (108) enables integrating the brace (100) within the helmet (200) for providing strength to the first resting member (106); wherein the first resting member (106) provides an area for mounting the goggle (300).

2. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the first resting member (106) is a rectangular flat surface.

3. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the first supporting member (108) is an arc-shaped member.

4. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the first supporting member (108) and the first resting member (106) are configured in the wedge shape with a cavity (119) therebetween.

5. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the first resting member (106) and the first supporting member (108) are parts of a continuous rigid block without cavity.

6. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein an angle between the first resting member (106) and the extension member (104) is adjustable using an angular adjustment mechanism.

7. The goggle brace (100) of claim 6, wherein the angular adjustment mechanism comprises a pivotal connection mechanism arranged between the first bracket (102) and the extension member (104).

8. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the hole is made over the helmet by an external hole making operation including drilling or boring.

9. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the fastening member (114) comprises a threaded member consisting of at least a screw, a bolt, an adhesive, a rivet, and a Velcro strap.

10. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the linear distance between the center of the hole (110) and the surface of the first resting member (106) is constant.

11. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the linear distance between the center of the hole (110) and the surface of the first resting member (106) is adjustable using a length adjustment mechanism.

12. The goggle brace (100) of claim 11, wherein the length adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of linear slots along the extension member (104)

13. The goggle brace (100) of claim 12, wherein the first bracket (102) is attachable to any slot of the plurality of slots with a cylindrical member.

14. The goggle brace (100) of claim 11, wherein the length adjustment mechanism comprises an extension member (104) configured in two-part form with one part slidable with respect to another part.

15. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1 further comprises at least one second bracket (116) that is detachably attached to the first bracket (102) and that allows the user to adjust the distance as per user's comfort.

16. The goggle brace (100) of claim 15, wherein the second bracket (116) comprising: a second resting member (117) that provides an area for mounting the goggles (300) when the second bracket (116) is attached to the first bracket (102); a second supporting member (118) that rests on the first resting member (106); and a pair of clipping members that extends linearly from the second supporting member (118).

17. The goggle brace (100) of claim 1, wherein the first resting member (106) is provided with a top notch (115a) and a bottom notch (115b).

18. The goggle brace (100) of claim 17, wherein the top notch (115a) and the bottom notch (115b) receives a first clipping member and a second clipping member of the pair of clipping members respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] So that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may have been referred by embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0017] These and other features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following text figure, with like reference numbers referring to like structures across the views, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a goggle brace for a helmet in accordance with the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a goggle brace for a helmet in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic isometric view of a goggle brace for a helmet in accordance with the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the attachment of the goggle brace within the helmet in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the pair of goggle braces attached within the helmet in accordance with the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the use of the goggle braces with a goggle configured over the pair of the goggle braces in accordance with the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the goggle brace of the present invention with an angular adjustment capability;

[0025] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the goggle brace of the present invention with a length adjustment capability;

[0026] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the goggle brace in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the goggle brace with a second bracket attached to a resting surface of a first bracket; and

[0028] FIG. 11 shows a view of FIG. 10 with the second bracket detached from the resting surface of the bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present invention relates to a goggle brace for a helmet. The brace provides a fixing arrangement for goggles within the helmet which protects the sinus of the rider from the pressure of the goggles by lessening the contact force. Also, the brace can be attached within any full face helmets having variety of size and shapes.

[0030] Referring to accompanying figures, particularly FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a goggle brace 100 for a helmet 200 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The brace 100 provides a resting surface for goggles 300 within the helmet 200 to lift the goggles away from a rider's face. The helmet 200 is a full-face or a modular or half or off-road or dual sport or open face or a like. In the preferred embodiment, the brace 100 is permanently arranged within the helmet 200 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0031] In another embodiment, the brace 100 can be removably attached within the helmet 200. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of braces 100 is arranged within one helmet 200 as shown in FIG. 5. The braces 100 are arranged within the helmet 200 with one brace 100 on inner surface of one of the side plates of the helmet 200 and the other brace 100 on inner surface of the other side plate of the helmet 200. The braces 100 are arranged in such a way that both the braces 100 are symmetrical along a vertical plane and at the both sides of the head of the rider wearing the helmet 200 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0032] The brace 100 includes a wedge-shaped first bracket 102 and an extension member 104 arranged with the first bracket 102 as shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, the extension member 104 is integrally arranged with the first bracket 102 as shown in FIG. 1. The first bracket 102 includes a first resting member 106 and a first supporting member 108. The first resting member 106 is a rectangular flat surface with a definite length and width. The length and width of the first resting member 106 is configured to accommodate the brace 100 along a goggle opening cavity 204 for mounting a visor on the helmet 200 as shown in FIG. 4. The first resting member 106 provides an area for mounting the goggles 300 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0033] The first supporting member 108 is an arc shaped member integral with the first resting member 106 as shown in FIG. 1. The first supporting member 108 enables integrating the brace 100 within the helmet 200 and provides strength to the first resting member 106 against the weight of the goggles 300 or any impact load from front or from sides. The first supporting member 108 and the first resting member 106 are configured to form a wedge shape with a cavity 119 therebetween as shown in FIG. 1. In another embodiment, the first resting member 106 and the first supporting member 108 are parts of a continuous rigid block without cavity.

[0034] Further, the extension member 104 extends linearly from the first supporting member 108 on the posterior side of the first supporting member 108 as shown in FIG. 1. In the preferred embodiment, the angle between the first resting member 106 and the extension member 104 is approximately 90 degrees. In one of the embodiments, the angle between the first resting member 106 and the extension member 104 can be adjusted as shown in FIG. 7. An angular adjustment mechanism such as a pivotal connection between the first bracket 102 and the extension member 104 or any angle adjustment mechanism known to the person skilled in the art can be used to adjust the angle between the first resting member 106 and the extension member 112. The extension member 104 is a flat beam extending away from the first supporting member 108 to attach the brace 100 within the helmet 200 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0035] Further, the extension member 104 has a hole 110 configured at an end of the extension member 104 as shown in FIG. 1. The brace 100 is attached on the inner surface of the helmet 200 by a fastening member 114 fitted within the hole 110 as shown in FIG. 4. The inner surface of the helmet 200 is the surface usually covered by a cheek pad 202 (shown in FIG. 5) of the helmet 200. In the preferred embodiment, the linear distance between the center of the hole 110 and the surface of the first resting member 106 is constant. In another embodiment, the linear distance between the center of the hole 110 and the surface of the first resting member 106 can be adjusted as shown in FIG. 8. A length adjustment mechanism such as multiple linear slots along the extension member 104 and the first bracket 102 be attached with any of the slots with a cylindrical member (not shown) or the extension member 104 configured in two-part form, where one part is slidable with respect to another part or any length adjustment mechanism known to the person skilled in the art can be used to adjust the distance between the center of the hole 110 and the first resting member 106.

[0036] The mounting of the goggles 300 over the goggle brace 100 and the mounting of the goggle brace 100 within the helmet 200 is shown in FIG. 6. In an example embodiment, an external hole or cavity (not shown) may be made over the helmet 200 by an external hole making operation such as drilling or boring, etc. The brace 100 is attached to the helmet 200 by arranging the hole 110 over the cavity made within the helmet 200 and inserting the fastening member 114 through the hole 110 as shown in FIG. 4. The fastening member 114 is a threaded member such as screw or bolt or an adhesive or a rivet or a Velcro strap or any permanent or non-permanent fastener known to the person skilled in the art. Both the braces 100 are arranged within the helmet 200 by the process mentioned above.

[0037] Further, the goggles 300 are made to rest over the first resting member 106 in such a way both edges 306 and 308 of the goggles 300 are positioned over each first resting member 106 as shown in FIG. 6. The goggles 300 are worn by the rider after wearing the helmet 200. The goggles 300 are tightened over the braces 100 through a strap 302. In the preferred embodiment, the strap 302 is a Velcro strap or an elastic strap or a belt. The strap 302 is tightened in such a way that the strap 302 encircles a rear surface of the helmet 200 as shown in FIG. 6. In the present embodiment, ends 304 of the straps 302 are attached to both the edges 306 and 308 of the goggles 300 and the rider wears the goggles 300 by drawing the elastic strap 302 over the rear surface of the helmet 200 though a single strap or two or more buckles or latches (not shown). Also, the goggles 300 can be fastened to the braces 100 by any permanent joint such as rivet or any non-permanent joint such as a threaded joint known to a person skilled in the art.

[0038] In one more alternative embodiment of the goggle brace 100, the extension member 104 is provided without a hole or a cavity (not shown). The extension member 104 is attached directly to the helmet 200 using an adhesive (E.g., glue) or a Velcro.

[0039] In one more embodiment of the goggle brace 100, the resting surface 106 of the first bracket 102 is provided with a top notch 115a and a bottom notch 115b as shown in FIG. 11. Further, the goggle brace 100 includes a second bracket 116. The second bracket 116 that can be detachably attached (clipped) to the first bracket 102 as shown in FIG. 10. More specifically, the second bracket 116 includes a second resting member 117, a second supporting member 118 and a pair of clipping members (not seen). The second resting member 117 provides an area for mounting the goggles 300 when the second bracket 116 is attached to the first bracket 102. The second supporting member 118 is a flat quadrilateral member as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The first resting member 106 of the first bracket 102 provides an area for holding the second supporting member 118, when the second bracket 116 is attached to the first bracket 102. The pair of clipping members extends linearly from the second supporting member 118 on the posterior side of the supporting member 118. The pair of clipping members and the second supporting member 118 configures a leaf spring. The top notch 115a and the bottom notch 115b receives a first clipping member and a second clipping member of the pair of clipping members respectively. The second bracket 116 allows the user to adjust the distance as per his comfort.

[0040] Thus, the present invention provides a goggle brace 100 for wearing the goggles with the helmet while riding. The use of braces with the goggles lessens the contact force on the sinus of the user. Further, the brace 100 can be attached to any helmet. Also, the brace 100 is portable, simple in construction and cost-effective.

[0041] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.