Protective headgear

• US 5,231,703 A
• Filed: 02/03/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 9001-6262 Quebec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Louis Garneau
• Inventors: Garneau, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): NERBUN, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US07/829,287
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 2/411, 2/412, 2/414, 2/424, 2/425, 2/181.6, 2/181.8, 2/410, 2/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 2/414
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/066 specially adapted for cycling helmets, e.g. for soft shelled helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/08 Chin straps or similar retention devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/28 Ventilating arrangements A42B3/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/01 Ventilated garment

Abstract

A safety helmet comprises hard internal and external shells and a shock-absorbent insert. The internal shell forms at its lower edge and on the outside thereof an upwardly-opening trough in which the insert is inserted. The free edge of the trough joins with the lower edge of the external shell above the bottom of the trough. The two shells, together with the insert, form ventilation openings which are lined by portions of the two shells. In one embodiment, the internal shell lines all of the interior face of the helmet. In another embodiment, the main portion of the internal shell is embedded into the soft-bodied insert, so that it is mainly the insert that contacts the wearer'"'"'s head, but for the rim portion thereof where the internal shell still surrounds the bottom edge of the insert.

Claims

1. A safety helmet for cyclists, comprising a hard external shell, a hard internal shell, and an intermediate shock-absorbing insert, said internal shell conforming with and adapted to fit the head of a wearer, and defining a bottom rim portion formed by an outwardly-extending web and a flange projecting upwardly from said web, said bottom rim portion thus defining an upwardly-opening trough, said insert conforming with and adhering to the outer surface of said internal shell and filling said trough, said insert having an external surface which is substantially flush with said flange, said external shell intimately conforming with, and adhering, to the external surface of said insert and having a bottom edge forming a joint with the top edge of said flange, and ventilation openings extending through said internal shell, insert and external shell, wherein said rim portion has a front and a rear section adapted to extend across the forehead and the back of the head of the wearer, respectively, said insert being thicker at said rear section than at said front section, the web of said rear section having an orifice defined by a tubular extension upwardly extending in said trough and said insert being exposed in said orifice at the upper end of said tubular extension.