Head protection system

Abstract

A head protection system includes a safety helmet and a fire protection cloth. The safety helmet includes a helmet shell (105) and a holding device (108) to guarantee a distance (A) between a helmet shell inner side (106) and the user head (102). An air path (110) is formed by a plurality of openings (120) of a fastening ring (125) and the distance between the inner side of the helmet shell and the head of the user. The fastening ring is arranged at least in an area of the user forehead of the user. The fire protection cloth has a fastening strap (230) with rigid fastening elements (235) configured to mesh with an opening of the fastening ring to detachably fasten the fire protection cloth to the safety helmet. The rigid fastening elements fill the plurality of openings in the fastened state to close the air path.

Claims

1. A head protection system comprising: a safety helmet comprising a helmet shell, a fastening ring and a holding device configured to provide a distance between an inner side of the helmet shell and the head of a user of the safety helmet in a state in which the safety helmet is being used, wherein an air path is formed between the safety helmet and the head based on the distance between the inner side of the helmet shell and the head of the user, the air path is formed in part by a plurality of openings of the fastening ring and the fastening ring being arranged at least in an area of the forehead of the user in the state in which the safety helmet is being used; and a fire protection cloth comprising a fastening strap with a plurality of rigid fastening elements configured to each mesh with a respective one of the openings of the fastening ring and to detachably fasten the fire protection cloth to the safety helmet, wherein the plurality of rigid fastening elements fill the plurality of openings in a fastened state of the fire protection cloth such that a flow of fluid through the plurality of openings is reduced.

2. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fastening strap is manufactured from a plastic.

3. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the safety helmet further comprises a shock-absorbing element arranged on the inner side of the helmet shell; and the fastening ring is arranged at the shock-absorbing element.

4. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings of the fastening ring comprises at least four openings.

5. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fastening strap of the fire protection cloth is fastened at the fastening ring of the safety helmet via a latching mechanism formed by the fastening elements and the openings.

6. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fastening elements form teeth at the fastening strap.

7. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fastening elements of the fastening strap have an essentially rectangular configuration.

8. A head protection system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the openings of the fastening ring have an essentially rectangular configuration corresponding to the configuration of the fastening elements.

9. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the safety helmet is configured such that the air path between the safety helmet and the head is completely closed in a fastened state of the fire protection cloth.

10. A head protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the fastening strap further comprises a plurality of fastening parts configured to detachably fasten the fire protection cloth to the safety helmet; and the plurality of fastening parts is in addition to the plurality of rigid fastening elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a safety helmet according to a first exemplary embodiment of a head protection system according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a fire protection cloth according to the first exemplary embodiment of the head protection system according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a second exemplary embodiment of the head protection system according to the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a third exemplary embodiment of the head protection system according to the present invention; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the head protection system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a safety helmet 100 according to a first exemplary embodiment of a head protection system according to the present invention.

(8) The safety helmet 100 has a helmet shell 105 and a holding device 108 to guarantee a distance between an inner side 106 of the helmet shell 105 and the head 102 of a user of the safety helmet 100 in the state in which the safety helmet 100 is being used. The outer side 107 of the helmet shell 105 is formed without any openings in order to guarantee a protective function against hot materials, hot ambient air and flames. Based on the distance A between the inner side 106 of the helmet shell 105 and the head 102 of the user, an air path 110 is formed between the safety helmet 100 and the head 102. This air path 110 is formed in part by a plurality of openings 120 of a fastening ring 125. The guiding of the air within the air path 110 may be configured differently depending on the thermal conditions in the surrounding area. The air path 110 passes in this case through the holding device 108 formed by a suitable strapping and is limited only in part by the plurality of openings 120. In particular, the air path in the area of the forehead of the head 102 is not limited exclusively by the fastening ring 125, so that the air can escape freely from the air path 110 at the forehead.

(9) The fastening ring 125 is arranged at least in the area of the forehead of the user in the state in which the safety helmet is being used. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fastening ring 125 is formed only in the area of the forehead and is arranged at a shock-absorbing element 112, which is fastened to the inner side 106 of the helmet shell 105. The fastening ring 125 is bonded here to the shock-absorbing element 112. In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, the fastening ring is fastened to the shock-absorbing element or directly to the helmet shell in a non-positive and/or positive-locking manner.

(10) The openings 120 of the plurality of openings have a rectangular shape in the exemplary embodiment shown. A respective opening has a width B1 of at least 0.3 cm, especially at least 0.5 cm, and especially preferably at least 1 cm. Furthermore, a respective opening has a height H1 of at least 0.3 cm, especially at least 0.5 cm, and especially preferably at least 1 cm.

(11) In addition to the holding device 108, a spacer element 114 is arranged at the helmet shell 105 in the area of the back of the head, said spacer element ensuring that the helmet shell 105 does not strike in this area the head 102 of the user of the safety helmet 100. The distance A shown is the shortest distance between the inner side 106 of the helmet shell 105 and the head 102. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the distance A is at least 0.3 cm, especially at least 0.7 cm and especially preferably at least 1.3 cm.

(12) The head protection system is used according to the present invention in the state shown without fire protection cloth if the user would not currently like to protect himself from hot ambient air and is therefore interested in an air stream through the air path 110. Such an air stream can, for example, carry stagnant heat present on the inner side 106 of the helmet shell 105 away from the user. Furthermore, the air stream can bring about cooling of the head 102 of the user.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a fire protection cloth 200 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the head protection system according to the present invention.

(14) The fire protection cloth 200 has a fastening strap 230. The fastening strap 230 has a rigid configuration. The fastening strap 230 has a rigid configuration due to the fact that it is not stretchable in the lateral direction, i.e., in the direction of the extension of the fastening strap 230. The fastening strap 230 is manufactured in this case from a plastic and can be bent in the transverse direction. Such a bending is advantageous for not occupying too much space during the storage of the fire protection cloth 200 and for the fire protection cloth to be nevertheless able to be fastened to a safety helmet. The fastening strap 230 has a plurality of rigid fastening elements 235, which are configured each to mesh with a respective opening 120 of the fastening ring 125 and thereby to detachably fasten the fire protection cloth 200 at the safety helmet 100. The fastening elements 235 have a respective projection 237 in this case, via which a respective fastening element 235 can be fastened at a respective opening 120. The fastening strap 230 in the exemplary embodiment shown has a one-part configuration, the two ends being arranged in the area of the forehead of the head of the user 102. Recesses 240 are correspondingly arranged in the fire protection cloth 200 for the face of the user in opposite edge areas of the textile part 250 proper of the fire protection cloth 200.

(15) The fastening strap 230 is sewn to the textile part 250. In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, the fastening strap is connected to the textile part by bonding.

(16) The plurality of rigid fastening elements 235 are coordinated with the structure of the safety helmet 100 such that the plurality of openings 120 are filled in the fastened state by the fastening elements 235 such that the air path through the plurality of openings is closed.

(17) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fastening strap 230 comprises exactly four rigid fastening elements 235. In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, the head protection system comprises more than four openings, especially at least six openings and a corresponding number of rigid fastening elements.

(18) The rigid fastening elements 235 in the exemplary embodiment shown have an essentially rectangular configuration and are especially suitable as a result for filling out the corresponding, essentially rectangularly configured openings 120 at the fastening ring 125. Such a filling is brought about in this case by a respective fastening element 235 passing through an opening 120 provided for that purpose and by the fastening element 235 snapping correspondingly into that opening 120 due to the corresponding projection 237. The respective, essentially rectangular, rigid fastening element 235 of the plurality of fastening elements has a width B2 of at least 0.3 cm, especially at least 0.5 cm and especially preferably at least 1 cm. Further, the respective, essentially rectangular, rigid fastening elements 235 has a height H2 of at least 0.3 cm, especially at least 0.5 cm and especially preferably at least 1 cm.

(19) The fastening strap 230 has a thickness of at least 1 mm and especially at least 1.5 mm.

(20) The safety helmet 100 and the fire protection cloth 200 from FIG. 1 and from FIG. 2 are coordinated with one another and form a common head protection system according to the present invention. Within the framework of the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the safety helmet and the fire protection cloth are shown in a state in which they are fastened to one another, a front area of the corresponding helmet shell of the safety helmet being always shown in a shortened form in order to make it possible to show in a suitable manner the fastening of the respective fire protection cloth at the respective safety helmet and the position of the plurality of openings.

(21) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment of the head protection system 300 according to the present invention.

(22) The head protection system 300 differs from the head protection system shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 in that the textile part 350 of the fire protection cloth 360 is closed around the head in the manner of a tube and the fastening strap 330 is therefore a closed ring. In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, the fastening strap is an open strap, which can be connected into a ring shape via a connection piece, for example, by a Velcro fastener, a clamping connection, a zipper or another suitable positive-locking and/or non-positive connection. The fastening strap 330 has a plurality of fastening elements 335, which are configured each to mesh with a respective opening 320 of a fastening ring 325.

(23) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of the head protection system 400 according to the present invention.

(24) The head protection system 400 differs from the head protection system 300 shown in FIG. 3 in that the rigid fastening elements 435 have a round, especially semicircular configuration. Furthermore, the fire protection cloth 460 has exactly three rigid fastening elements 435. The plurality of openings 420 have a semicircular configuration corresponding to the rigid fastening elements 435.

(25) The fastening strap 430 of the fire protection cloth 460 is fastened at the fastening ring 425 of the safety helmet 470 via a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is formed by the combination of rigid fastening elements 435 and by the corresponding openings 420. The latching takes place with this configuration via the respective projections (not shown) arranged at the three rigid fastening elements 435. Thus, there is a positive-locking connection and at the same time a non-positive connection between the fire protection cloth 460 and the safety helmet 470.

(26) Further, the head protection system 400 differs from the head protection system 300 shown in FIG. 3 in that, in addition to the fastening via the rigid fastening elements, a plurality of fastening parts 480, via which the fire protection cloth 460 is additionally connected detachably to the safety helmet 470, are arranged at the fire protection cloth 460. The plurality of fastening parts 480 comprise two fastening parts, which are pressed from the inner side 406 of the helmet shell 405 against the fastening ring 425 in order to form a detachable connection between the fire protection cloth 460 and the safety helmet 470 with correspondingly configured counter-parts 485 of the fastening ring 425. The fire protection cloth 460 is connected to the safety helmet 470 especially reliably and securely due to this additional connection in the exemplary embodiment shown.

(27) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the head protection system 500 according to the present invention.

(28) The head protection system 500 differs from the head protection system 300 shown in FIG. 3 in that the fire protection cloth 560 is fastened in the fastened state on the side of the fastening ring 525, which side points away from the head of the user. The rigid fastening elements 535 of the fastening strap 530 are not passed here, unlike in the above-described exemplary embodiments, through a respective opening of the fastening ring 525. The rigid fastening elements 535 are held in the exemplary embodiment shown by means of a respective rail 590 at the fastening ring 525. An effective fastening against pulling forces acting on the fire protection cloth 560 is made possible by an additional fastening of the fire protection cloth 560 at the safety helmet 570 via corresponding fastening parts 580. These corresponding fastening parts 580 have projections, which are pressed and/or inserted through corresponding counter-parts (not shown) in the direction of the head. Other prior-art connections may also be used as an additional connection for fastening the fire protection cloth 560 at the safety helmet 570.

(29) The plurality of openings 520 are closed completely in the fastened state of the fire protection cloth 560. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the air path between the safety helmet 570 and the head is closed completely by the closing according to the present invention of the plurality of openings 520. This is also achieved by the textile part 550 of the fire protection cloth 560, which is in contact with the head of the user in the area of the forehead. Complete closing of the openings by the fastening elements was likewise present in the preceding exemplary embodiments. In one exemplary embodiment, not shown, a respective opening of the fastening ring is closed only in part by the corresponding fastening element.

(30) Unlike in the preceding exemplary embodiments, the shape of the plurality of openings 520 and the shape of the rigid fastening elements 535 are not identical in the head protection system 500. The rigid fastening elements 535 have a rectangular shape and the plurality of openings 520 have an oval shape. As a result, an especially reliable closing of the openings 520 by the rigid fastening elements 535 can be achieved hereby due to the rigid fastening elements 535.

(31) 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

(32) 100, 470, 570 Safety helmet 102 Head 105 Helmet shell 106 Inner side of the helmet shell 107 Outer side of the helmet shell 108 Holding device 110 Air path 112 Shock-absorbing element 114 Spacer element 120, 420, 520 Plurality of openings 125, 425, 525 Fastening ring 200, 360, 460, 560 Fire protection cloth 230, 330, 430, 530 Fastening strap 235, 435, 535 Rigid fastening element 237 Projection 240 Recess 250, 350 Textile part 300, 400, 500 Head protection system 480, 580 Plurality of fastening parts 485 Plurality of counter-parts 590 Rail A Distance B1 Width of opening B2 Width of fastening element H1 Height of opening H2 Height of fastening element