Protective Helmet

• US 20080289085A1
• Filed: 11/23/2006
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vha Holdings Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: VOZ Corporation Pty Limited
• Inventors: Bryant, Mark, Vozzo, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/421
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/328 with means to facilitate removal, e.g. after an accident

Abstract

Described herein are various protective helmets, including helmets designed for equestrian use. In one embodiment, an equestrian helmet (1) includes a front shell (2) and a rear shell (3). Shell (3) is moveable with respect to shell (1) to provide the helmet with two configurations. The first of these is an open configuration where the helmet is configured for receiving within the helmet or removing from the helmet a human head (4). The second configuration is a closed where shell (3) is releasably lockingly engaged to shell (2) for securely containing head (4) within helmet (1).

Claims

1. A protective helmet comprising:

a front shell; and

a rear shell moveable with respect to the front shell to provide;

an open configuration for receiving within the helmet or removing from the helmet a head; and

a closed configuration wherein the rear shell is releasably lockingly engaged to the front shell for securely containing the head within the helmet.

2. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the front shell comprises a first edge complimentarily engageable with a second edge on the rear shell.

3. A helmet according to claim 2 wherein the first and second edges comprise respective complimentary inter-engaging locating formations extending substantially along the length of the edges, these locating formations being mutually locatingly engaged when the helmet is in the closed configuration to substantially transversely locate the front shell with respect to the rear shell.

4. A helmet according to claim 3 wherein the locating formations are defined by the cross-sectional profiles of the first and second edges.

5. A helmet according to claim 4 wherein one of the edges comprises a beaded peripheral lip to define one of the complimentary locating formations and the other edge comprises a recessed peripheral channel for receiving the lip to define the other complimentary locating formation.

6. A helmet according to claim 1 comprising:

a first fitting zone on the front shell for engagement with the forehead region of the head;

a second fitting zone for engagement with a chin region of the head; and

a third fitting zone on the rear shell for engagement with a posterior region of the head when the helmet is in the closed configuration thereby to provide a three zone fitting

system for securely containing the head within the helmet.

7. A helmet according to claim 6 wherein the third fitting zone is provided on an adjustable chin cup for cupping and securing the chin region.

8. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the front and rear shells are lockingly engagable by a multiple point locking system.

9. A helmet according to claim 8 wherein the multiple point locking system comprises an upper dorsal connection and two lower side connections.

10. A helmet according to claim 9 wherein the upper dorsal includes a hinge such that the rear shell is hingedly connected to the front shell fore rotation between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

11. A helmet according to claim 10 wherein each side connection comprises an adjustable connector mechanism for designating a selectable proximity between adjacent connector regions of the front and rear shells.

12. A helmet according to claim 11 wherein the mechanism comprises an elongate member selectively releasably lockingly engageable with a complimentary fitment.

13. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein the front shell comprises the member and the rear shell includes the fitment.

14. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein the front the member extends progressively through the fitment upon the engagement to define a tail portion, and a tunnel is provided in the rear shell for receiving and concealing the tail portion.

15. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein member is rotatable with respect to the front shell such that it remains within the fitment upon hinged rotation of the shells.

16. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein the fitments are moveable from a locked configuration in which the allowed passage of the member is unidirectional and an unlocked configuration in which the allowed passage of the member is bi-directional.

17. A helmet according to claim 16 wherein both fitments must be in the unlocked configuration for the helmet to move from the closed to open configuration.

18. An equestrian helmet comprising:

a front shell; and

a rear shell moveable with respect to the front shell to provide;

an open configuration for receiving within the helmet or removing from the helmet a head; and

a closed configuration wherein the rear shell is releasably lockingly engaged to the front shell for securely containing the head within the helmet.