PROTECTIVE HELMET

• US 20140026298A1
• Filed: 08/02/2013
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vha Holdings Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Voztec Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Bryant, Mark, Vozzo, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,032,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/421
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/08 Chin straps or similar retention devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/328 with means to facilitate removal, e.g. after an accident

Abstract

The present disclosure is concerned with technology for protective helmets, with a particular focus on rear opening full-face helmets. Embodiments are primarily focussed on an emergency release mechanism for such helmets, which allows the helmet to be separated into a front and rear shell thereby to facilitate removal from a wearer'"'"'s head with minimal stress to the neck.

Claims

1. A protective helmet including:

a front shell and a rear shell, wherein in use a wearer'"'"'s head is contained by the front shell and rear shell collectively; and

an emergency release mechanism configured to release the front shell from the rear shell such that the front shell is removable from the rear shell.

2. A protective helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet is a full-face helmet, and wherein the emergency release mechanism is configured to release the front shell from the rear shell such that the front shell is removable from the rear shell thereby to enable uninhibited access to the user'"'"'s face.

3. A protective helmet according to claim 1 wherein the emergency release mechanism includes a tab member that is configured to be manually engaged thereby to simultaneously release multiple connector members that are configured to secure the front shell to the rear shell.

4. A protective helmet according to claim 3 wherein manually engaging the tab member includes lifting the tab member.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the multiple connector members define all points of connection between the front and rear shells, such that upon manual engagement of the tab member, the front shell is removable from the rear shell.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein, following manual engaging of the tab member, a removable hinge member secures the front shell to the rear shell.

7. A protective helmet including:

a helmet shell; and

an emergency release mechanism configured to release the helmet shell into a front shell and the rear shell that are separable from one another.

8. A protective helmet according to claim 7 wherein the front shell includes a first region that protects a wearer'"'"'s forehead and a second region that protects a wearer'"'"'s chin.

9. A protective helmet according to claim 7 wherein the emergency release mechanism includes a tab member that is configured to be manually engaged thereby to simultaneously release multiple connector members that are configured to secure the front shell to the rear shell.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the multiple connector members define all points of connection between the front and rear shells, such that upon manual engagement of the tab member, the front shell is removable from the rear shell.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein, following manual engaging of the tab member, a removable hinge member secures the front shell to the rear shell.

12. A protective helmet configured such that:

a user'"'"'s head is inserted into the helmet by way of a first operation; and

the user'"'"'s head is removable from the helmet by either of;

(i) reversing the first operation;

or

(ii) operating a safety release mechanism thereby to split the protective helmet into two shells.

13. A protective helmet according to claim 12 wherein the helmet is defined by a front shell hingedly connected to a rear shell, and wherein the first operation includes:

positioning the helmet in an open configuration in which the helmet is able to be placed on a user'"'"'s head or removed from the user'"'"'s head; and

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

14. A protective helmet according to claim 12 wherein two shells include a front shell includes a first region that protects a wearer'"'"'s forehead and a second region that protects a wearer'"'"'s chin.

15. A protective helmet according to claim 12 wherein the emergency release mechanism includes a tab member that is configured to be manually engaged thereby to simultaneously release multiple connector members that are configured to secure the two shells together.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the multiple connector members define all points of connection between the shells, such that upon manual engagement of the tab member, the front shells are completely separable from one another

17. A method according to claim 12 wherein, following manual engaging of the tab member, a removable hinge member secures the shells together.