WO2001074188A1

WO2001074188A1 - Improved means for maintaining a protective helmet

Info

Publication number: WO2001074188A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/000821
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thierry Pauchard
Original assignee: Gallet Sa
Priority date: 2000-04-03
Filing date: 2001-03-20
Publication date: 2001-10-11
Also published as: AU2001244276A1; FR2806883A1; FR2806883B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a protective helmet (1) partly formed by a main outer shell (2) with longitudinal symmetry plane (P) and comprising means for maintaining and positioning the helmet (MP) designed to ensure its being fixed on the user's head, said means consisting of a set of flexible straps (12, 12A) designed to fasten between them the side walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet (MP), the means maintaining and positioning the helmet having fastening means (MA) and locking means (MV) formed by a main fixing support (14) and a matching fixing member (15) having each a matching fastening profile (16, 17) and a matching locking element (18, 19) to enable the member (15) to be fastened on the support (14), and then locked thereon. The invention is characterised in that when the locking means (MV) are locked the straps (12, 12A) are stretched between the peripheral walls (7a, 7b) of the shell (2).

Description

IMPROVEMENT FOR MEANS OF HOLDING A PROTECTIVE HELMET

The present invention relates to a protective helmet and more particularly the means for hooking and locking the means for holding said helmet.

Protective helmets are already known which are used in different fields and worn by various users such as cyclists, motorcyclists, firefighters, skiers and others, such as soldiers, pilots of airplanes or helicopters . All current helmets, whatever their use, include an external rigid shell having the general shape of a sphere comprising a facial opening and whose cavity thus formed includes protective and comfort padding elements intended to fit the head of the user. Furthermore, the helmet is traditionally retained on the head of the user by holding means, such as for example, a flexible chin strap or a chin strap, fixed to the side walls of the helmet. The current fixing devices between the holding means and the helmet are unsatisfactory because they are ineffective and often unreliable. Removing or putting on the helmet is most of the time quite difficult, the adjustment is delicate and very often does not allow good positioning and good retention. The helmet is then an object of discomfort for the wearer and it does not ensure its protective function under good conditions.

Numerous loops or fastening members are known which are intended to allow the attachment of a chinstrap or chin strap. However, these are not satisfactory because they are sometimes difficult to set up or remove and require the use of two hands for these operations. On the other hand, they do not always allow maximum security to be obtained and problems of inadvertent accidental opening may arise. Furthermore, the adjustment or tightening of the holding means and in particular of the chin straps of the prior art generally requires several separate operations of attachment, locking and tensioning so that these adapt perfectly to the head. of the user.

Thus, the present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks using simple, reliable and easy to implement means. Its objective is to facilitate the fitting of the helmet and the tightening of the holding means as well as the security of their attachment and their locking thanks to a specific attachment and fixing device, handy and making it possible to reduce the number of operation necessary for positioning and holding the helmet on the user's head.

According to its main characteristic, the protective helmet of the invention is formed in part by a main external shell and is of the type comprising means for holding and positioning the helmet intended to allow its attachment to the head of the user, said means being constituted by a set of flexible straps intended to connect the side walls of the helmet to one another, the means for holding and positioning the helmet having hooking and locking means formed by a main fixing support and a fixing member complementary each with a hooking profile complementary and a complementary locking element to allow the attachment of the member to the support, then their locking, and is characterized in that the locking of the locking means causes the straps to be tensioned between the two side walls of the shell .

According to another characteristic of the helmet of the invention, the fixing member is movable relative to the support between a fastening position where the fastening profiles are engaged, and a locked position where the locking elements cooperate.

According to an additional characteristic of the protective helmet of the invention, the complementary fastening member passes from its attachment position to its locked position by a pivoting movement.

According to another characteristic of the helmet of the invention, it is characterized in that the attachment profiles are formed by an attachment axis disposed at the lower end of the support and a semi-cylindrical groove carried by the fixing and in that the pivoting of the member on the support takes place around the attachment axis.

According to the preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, the fixing support is arranged on a side wall of the shell or at a connection point connected to a side wall by straps, and in that the complementary fixing member is secured to a central strap of the holding and positioning means either directly, or by means of a connecting piece articulated on the member around a joint. According to an additional characteristic of the protective helmet of the invention, it is characterized in that the point of attachment of the central strap on the fixing member or the articulation between the connecting piece carrying the central strap and the complementary fixing member is located on said member at a non-zero distance from the attachment profile of the complementary fixing member.

According to another characteristic of the helmet of the invention, it is characterized in that the central strap is fixed on a connecting piece constituted by a stirrup articulated on the fixing member around a joint and in that the pivoting of this stirrup up against the tension of the strap causes the unlocking means to be unlocked when the member and its support are in the locked position.

According to the preferred embodiment of the protective helmet of the invention, the stirrup has at its articulation on the complementary fixing member, unlocking ramps intended to urge the fixing member to move away from the support. and unlock.

According to this embodiment, the connecting piece or the stirrup and the fixing member have complementary abutment surfaces intended to limit the movement of the articulation between said connecting piece and the fixing member.

According to another characteristic of the helmet of the invention, it is characterized in that the main fixing support is formed by a wall or plate carrying at its lower end a latching axis and at its upper end a lug of locking, while the fixing member complementary is formed by a wall comprising a groove capable of being clipped onto the attachment axis of the support and a locking orifice.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figures la to 7 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the protective helmet of the invention and its specific fixing device.

Figure la is a front view of a helmet of the invention placed on the head of a user with its positioning means in the locked position.

Figure lb is a front view of a helmet of the invention placed on the head of a user with its positioning means in the intermediate position.

Figure le is a front view of a helmet of the invention placed on the head of a user with its positioning means in the hooking position.

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective a helmet provided with the fixing device of the invention.

Figure 3a shows in perspective the fastening device in the hanging position

Figure 3b shows in perspective the fastening device in the locked position.

FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d illustrate the attachment of the fixing device in lateral view, respectively in the docking position, in the hooking position, in the intermediate position and in the locked position for use.

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d illustrate the release of the fastening device in side view, respectively in the locked position, in the unlocked position, in the intermediate position and in the off-hook position.

FIG. 6 illustrates the fixing device in exploded perspective.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a protective helmet provided with the fixing device of the invention.

Figures 8a and 8b are views illustrating an improvement of the invention

The protective helmet shown by way of example in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c and 2, bearing the general reference (1), is in particular a soldier's helmet, of the infantryman type, which has a longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P) , which comprises in a manner known per se a main external shell (2) having a front facial opening (3).

The main external shell (2) consists of a substantially spherical wall of generally vertical plane of symmetry (P) which is advantageously made of composite material of the type comprising a stack of layers of reinforcing fibers, impregnated and linked together by a matrix resin. The fibers can be glass, aramid, nylon, polyethylene or carbon fibers, while the matrix can be a resin of the thermosetting or thermoplastic type. Of course, the shell could be in any other material such as, for example, steel.

The main external shell (2) comprises several wall portions, as shown in FIG. 2, namely, an upper front wall portion (4) extended towards the rear by an upper rear wall portion (5), even extended downwards by a lower rear wall portion (6), and moreover comprises two lateral wall portions (7). The upper front portion (4) corresponds to the zone occupied by the forehead of the user and is limited by the upper border (8) of the facial opening (3) which, in turn, is limited laterally by two lateral borders (9). The upper rear wall portion (5) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's skull, while the lower rear wall portion (6) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's neck. Add to this that the shell wall is bounded downwards by a lower border (10). The lateral wall portions (7a, 7b) correspond to the areas occupied by the ears of the user and are bounded forwards by the corresponding lateral border (9) of the facial opening (3) and downwards by the lower border (10).

Furthermore, the internal enclosure of the main shell (2) comprises a shell, not shown, consisting, for example, of a layer of foam glued to the interior face of the shell as well as a deformable cap intended for adapting the headphones to the volume and shape of the user's head. Said deformable cap is, for example, constituted by a set of elements made of flexible materials such as leather, strap or the like, retained on a cap support fixed to the shell (2). The helmet (1) of the invention comprises holding and positioning means (MP) intended to allow its fitting and removal as well as its attachment to the head (11) of the user as shown in FIG. . These means are advantageously formed by a chin strap (12) or a chin strap which connects the side walls (7a, 7b) together passing under or against the chin of the user. They have a removable fixing device intended to allow the removal and the fitting of the helmet (1), formed by attachment means (MA) and locking means (MV).

According to the illustrated embodiment of the protective helmet, the chin strap (12) consists of a set of flexible straps (12, 12a), a central strap (12a) connecting two lateral connection points (13a, 13b), said points being connected to the side walls (7a, 7b) by two lateral strap portions arranged triangularly. The device for fixing the holding means is arranged, for example, at one of the connection points (13a, 13b) against a flexible wall connecting the two lateral strap portions. However, it could be otherwise, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 7 where the chin strap includes only a single strap (12) and where the fixing device is disposed between one of the side walls (7a, 7b) and said strap and no longer between the portions of lateral and central straps which form the chin strap as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.

According to the invention, the fixing device comprises a main fixing support (14) and a complementary fixing member (15) which each have a hooking profile (16, 17) and a locking element (18, 19) intended to cooperate respectively between them. To do this, the fixing support (14) and the member (15) are movable relative to each other between a so-called attachment position (A) where the respective attachment profiles (16, 17 ) are engaged and a locking position (B) where the locking elements (18, 19) cooperate. The passage from one position (A, B) to the other takes place by pivoting of the complementary fixing member (15), said pivoting being effected while keeping the hooking profiles in engagement. According to the invention, the transition to the locking position (B) causes the chin strap (12) to be tensioned.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the complementary attachment profiles (16, 17) are formed by a pin portion (16) and a groove (17) allowing the pivoting of the fixing member (15 ) around the axis (16) when they are engaged, forming the articulation between the two parts. The locking elements consist of a stud (18) and an orifice (19). It can be noted that, according to the illustrated embodiment, the stud (18) is located at the upper end of the plate (20) forming the support (14), while the orifice (19) is located on the portion wall (21) forming the member (15). However, the arrangement of the stud and the orifice could be reversed, without however departing from the scope of protection of the invention. The axis portion (16) is advantageously carried by the plate (20) of the main support (14) at its lower end, while the groove (17) is semi-cylindrical in shape and extends the wall (21) of the organ

(15). It can be noted that the groove (17) may have a small return (29) to allow its clipping on the axis

(16) when the member (15) and the support (14) are in the hooking position (A). Note that in the locking position (B), the groove (17) is positioned behind the axis (16), between the axis and the plate (20) of the support to be blocked by the axis and the plate, while the locking elements (18, 19) prevent the pivoting movement of the complementary fixing member (15), locking together the fixing member on its support (14), as shown in Figures 4d and 5a.

According to the invention, the central strap (12a) or the single strap (12) is integral with the fixing member (15), while the support (14) is fixed to the side wall (7a, 7b) of the helmet (1) or at the connection point (13a, 13b). The strap (12, 12a) can be fixed directly on the member (15) or be fixed on a connecting piece or loop (22) mounted articulated on the member (15) around a hinge pin (23 ). Note that the point of attachment or attachment of the strap (12, 12e) or the articulation (23) of the connecting piece (22) which carries it is located (e) on the member (15) at a non-zero distance (L) of the pivot axis of the member (15) on the support (14), that is to say of the groove (17). Thus, during pivoting between the hooking position (A) and the locking position (B) illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4d, the end (24) of the strap (12a) is biased upwards so as to tension the chinstrap (12, 12a) against the user's neck. Thus according to the invention, the fixing member (15) urges the strap (12, 12a) during its respective movement with the fixing support (14) and this urging can be effected by means of the hinge pins (16 , 23) of the fixing device which are offset by a distance (L).

It may be noted that, according to the preferred embodiment of the fixing device for the chin strap of the helmet of the invention, the articulation (23) between the connecting piece (22) and the fixing member (15) is disposed on said complementary fixing member between the hooking groove (17) and the orifice lock (19). In addition, the connecting piece (22) is in the form of a stirrup which has sufficient spacing between its two side walls.

(25a, 25b) to position themselves in the extension of the fixing member (15) and of the support (14) by surrounding them, as shown in FIGS. 2,

3b, 4d and 5a.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention and as shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d, the loop or stirrup (22) advantageously constitutes the member for unlocking the fixing device intended to separate the cooperation of the stud (18) and of the orifice (19) which form the locking means (MV) in order to allow the reverse pivoting of the complementary member (15) towards its so-called stall position (C) which corresponds to the latch position (A) illustrated Figure 4b. Once in its hooking or unhooking position (A, C), the hooking profiles (16, 17) can be clipped or unclipped thanks to the complementary shape of their profiles and the return (29) of the groove ( 17), as shown in Figures 4a, 4b and 5d.

To do this, the side walls (25a, 25b) of the connecting piece (22) carry at their end, at the articulation (23), an unlocking ramp (26) which allows, when it is requested said part (22) pivoting relative to the member (15), to bear on the upper face of the support (14) so as to urge the axis (23) and therefore the member (15) to move away from said support. The stud (18) then leaves the orifice (19) to allow the pivoting of the member (15) around the joint formed by the attachment profiles (16, 17) which cooperate by clipping towards its release position (C).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be noted that the loop (22) and the fixing member (15) have, near their articulation (23), complementary abutment surfaces (27) intended to limit the angular movement of the joint while cooperating.

These complementary abutment surfaces (27) are advantageously arranged at the joint (23). They limit the angular movement of the joint to less than 180 ° to facilitate the manipulation of the member (15) and its stirrup (22) for attachment and locking. Thus, they allow the loop (22) to be held in a preferential position relative to the member (15) so that it extends on the side of the external face (15a) of the fixing member (15). .

Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking pin, which extends from the plate (20) forming the support, has a projection extending upwards to avoid any untimely unlocking when the stress on the member (15) is directed downwards. It can also be slightly inclined upwards to facilitate unlocking when the member (15) is biased by means of the unlocking ramps (26) to move away from the support (14), this biasing being effected below the position. of the locking pin (18) thanks to the positioning of the articulation (23) of the stirrup (22) and its unlocking ramps (26), as shown in FIG. 5b. It has been understood, thanks to the above description, that the means for holding and positioning the helmet have hooking (MA) and locking (MV) means constituting means allowing the holding and positioning means to take hold of the at least two positions: a hooking position (A) according to which the holding and positioning means are not under tension but released, and a locking position (B) according to which said holding and positioning means are under tension in order to maintain and retain the helmet. It will be noted that the passage from the hooking position (A) to the locking position (B) is made by reducing the length of the straps of the chin strap, which causes tensioning.

Let us add for more precision that the hooking position (A) is a locked, but not taut, position of the chinstrap, and that the locking position (B) is a taut locked position.

It will be noted that the plate (20) of the main support (14) comprises fixing means, such as for example a lower hook (140) intended to engage in a corresponding housing (143) produced in the chin strap, and a hole ( 141) intended to receive a fixing rivet (142), as shown more particularly in FIGS. 8a and 8b. Furthermore, the other end of the chin strap is retained on a secondary support (144) comprising the same fixing means, namely a lower hook (140) intended to engage in a corresponding housing (143) produced in the chin strap, and a hole (141) intended to receive a fixing rivet

(142). It will be understood that thus it is possible for the user to reverse his chin strap to place the unlocking from the side where desired. Figures 8a and 8b illustrate such a possibility of reversal.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims

1. Protective helmet (1) formed in part by a main external shell (2) of longitudinal plane of symmetry (P) and of the type comprising means for holding and positioning the helmet (MP) intended to allow its attachment to the user head

(100), said means being constituted by a set of flexible straps (12, 12a) intended to connect together the side walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet, the means for holding and positioning the helmet (MP) having means hooking (MA) and locking (MV) formed by a main fixing support (14) and a complementary fixing member (15) each having a complementary hooking profile (16, 17) and a complementary locking element (18, 19) to allow the attachment of the member (15) on the support (14), then their locking, characterized in that the locking of the locking means (MV) causes the straps (12) to be tensioned , 12a) between the two side walls

(7a, 7b) of the shell (2).

2. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing member (15) is movable relative to the support (14) between a fastening position (A) where the fastening profiles ( 16, 17) are engaged, and a locked position (B) where the locking elements (18, 19) cooperate.

3. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the complementary fixing member (15) passes from its position hooking (A) to its locked position (B) by a pivoting movement.

4. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the attachment profiles (MA) are formed by an attachment axis

(16) disposed at the lower end of the support (14) and a semi-cylindrical groove (17) carried by the fixing member (15) and in that the pivoting of the member

(15) on the support (14) takes place around the attachment axis (16).

5. Protective helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing support (14) is arranged on a side wall (7a, 7b) of the shell (2) or at a point of link (13a, 13b) connected to a side wall by straps, and in that the complementary fixing member (15) is integral with a central strap

(12, 12a) holding and positioning means

(MP) either directly or by means of a connecting piece (22) articulated on the member around a joint (23).

6. Protective helmet (1) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the point of attachment of the central strap (12, 12a) on the fixing member (15) or the joint (23) between the connecting piece (22) carrying the central strap (12, 12a) and the complementary fixing member (15) is located on said member (15) at a non-zero distance (L) from the attachment profile (17) of the complementary fixing member (15).

7. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the central strap (12, 12a) is fixed on a connecting piece (22) constituted by a stirrup articulated on the member fixing (15) around a joint (23) and in that the pivoting of this stirrup (22) upwards against the tension of the strap (12, 12e) causes the unlocking means to be unlocked ( MV, 18, 19) when the member (15) and its support (14) are in the locked position (B).

8. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the stirrup (22) has, at its articulation (23) on the complementary fixing member (15), unlocking ramps (26) intended to urge the fixing member (15) to move away from the support (14) and unlock.

9. Protective helmet (1) according to any one of claims 5, 7 or 8, characterized in that the connecting piece (22) and the fixing member

(15) have complementary abutment surfaces intended to limit the movement of the joint

(23) between said connecting piece (22) and the fixing member (15).

10. Protective helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main fixing support (14) is formed by a wall or plate (20) carrying at its lower end a latching axis (16) and at its upper end a locking pin (18), while the complementary fixing member (15) is formed by a wall (21) comprising a groove (17) capable of being clipped onto the axis hooking (16) of the support (14) and a locking hole (19).