Two piece helmet with optional airbag

• US 6,418,564 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2001
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sheridan, Patrick
• Original Assignee: Sheridan, Patrick
• Inventors: Sheridan, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US09/853,010
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 242/5, 241/0, 241/3, 246/8, 241/1, 242/1, 2DI/G 3, 2DI/G 1.0
• US Class Current: 2/425
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0486 Airbags
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/328 with means to facilitate removal, e.g. after an accident

Abstract

A two piece helmet with optional airbag is split along a vertical axis between the sides of the helmet to ease removal in the event of an injury. A series of aligned orifices in the helmet portions are joined by a removable cable. The cable ends are attached to each other to secure the helmet portions or to each of the helmet portions. The cable is accessed through removable panels that may also be used to tension the cable. Alternate means for joining the helmet portions include a series of lateral exterior latches opened by the cable. The helmet liner has two overlapping portions to minimize noise and improve weather sealing. An optional inflatable air bag is fitted to a lower perimeter of the helmet. A proximity sensing system will inflate the airbag when the vehicle is in motion and the helmet is displaced a certain distance from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A helmet, comprising:

a rigid, outer shell, said outer shell comprising a front portion and a mating rear portion, each of said front and rear portions having a lower surrounding edge;

said front portion including an opening to provide forward visibility for a wearer;

a resilient, padded inner liner, said liner comprising a first portion and a mating second portion;

said first portion being sized and shaped to fit within the front portion of the outer shell;

said second portion being sized and shaped to fit within the rear portion of the outer shell;

means for securing the helmet to the head of the wearer;

means for removably attaching said front portion to said rear portion comprising;

a series of mating orifices in said front portion and in said rear portion, said orifices being disposed adjacent an intersection between said front portion and said rear portion;

a flexible cable, said cable having a first predetermined cross-section, a first end and a second end and being sized and shaped to fit slidably through said mating orifices;

said cable being threaded through said mating orifices and securing said front portion to said rear portion;

means for removably attaching said first end to said second end;

means for withdrawing said cable from said mating orifices; and

whereby, when said first end of said cable is detached from said second end, the cable may be withdrawn from the mating orifices and the front portion separated from the rear portion.

2. A helmet, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching the first end of the cable to the second end further comprises:

first and second cable terminators, each of said cable terminators having a first end, a second end and a cross-section no larger than said first predetermined cross-section;

said first cable terminator being fixedly attached at its first end to the first end of the flexible cable;

said second cable terminator being fixedly attached at its first end to the second end of the flexible cable;

each of the second ends of said first and second cable terminators including a notch;

a retaining clip, said retaining clip being formed of rigid material, having a U-shaped cross-section, being sized and shaped to fit frictionally over said cable terminators and including a pair of protruding tabs, said tabs being sized, shaped, and disposed to removably engage the notches in the second ends of said terminators; and

whereby, when the second ends of the first and second cable terminators are placed adjacent each other and the retaining clip is pressed downwardly over the terminators, with the protruding tabs engaging the notches in the second ends of the cable terminators, the first and second cable ends will be removably attached.

3. A helmet, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching the first end of the cable to the second end further comprises:

first and second cable terminators, each of said cable terminators having a first end, a second end and a cross-section no larger than said first predetermined cross-section;

said first cable terminator being fixedly attached at its first end to the first end of the flexible cable;

said second cable terminator being fixedly attached at its first end to the second end of the flexible cable;

each of the second ends of said first and second cable terminators including a central stem and a securing portion attached to said stem;

a retaining clip, said retaining clip being formed of rigid material, having a U-shaped cross-section, being sized and shaped to fit frictionally over said cable terminators and including a two pair of protruding tabs, said tabs being sized, shaped, and disposed to removably surround the central stems of the second ends of the cable terminators, drawing the securing portions of said terminators together; and

whereby, when the second ends of the first and second cable terminators are placed adjacent each other and the retaining clip is pressed downwardly over the terminators, with the protruding tabs surrounding the central stems of the second ends of the cable terminators, the first and second cable ends will be removably attached.

4. A helmet, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching the first end of the cable to the second end further comprises:

an adhesive container, said container being sized and shaped to constrain the first end of the cable in close proximity to the second end of the cable;

an adhesive, said adhesive being poured into the adhesive container and over the first and second ends of the cable and allowed to dry; and

whereby, when said adhesive has dried, the first and second ends of the cable will be removably attached until sufficient tension is directed to separate the first end of the cable from the second end of the cable and the adhesive fails to grip either of the first and second ends of the cable.

5. A helmet, as described in claim 1, wherein the means for removably attaching the front portion to the rear portion further comprises:

a series of mating, overlapping panels, said overlapping panels being fixedly attached to said front portion and said rear portion adjacent the intersection between said front and rear portions; and

whereby, said mating, overlapping panels serve to increase structural strength of the helmet and provide improved weather sealing.

6. A helmet, as described in claim 5, wherein the first and mating second portions of the resilient, padded inner liner further comprise mating, interlocking edges, thereby providing improved weather sealing.

7. A helmet, as described in claim 1, further comprising means for rapidly removing the flexible cable to separate the front portion of the helmet from the rear portion.

8. A helmet, as described in claim 7 wherein the means for rapidly removing the flexible cable further comprises:

a first removable access panel, said first access panel covering the means for removably attaching the first end of the cable to the second end; and

a second removable access panel, said second access panel covering a portion of the flexible cable and an indentation in one of the front and rear portions of the helmet, said indentation providing means to apply tension to the cable for its removal.

9. A helmet as described in claim 8 wherein said first removable access panel further comprises:

at least one tensioning element, said tensioning element being attached to an underside of said first access panel and being sized, shaped and disposed to engage a portion of said flexible cable; and

said tensioning element imparting tension to said cable while securing said first access panel to the helmet.

10. A helmet, comprising:

a rigid, outer shell, said outer shell comprising a front portion and a mating rear portion, each of said front and rear portions having a lower surrounding edge;

said front portion including an opening to provide forward visibility for a wearer;

a resilient, padded inner liner, said liner comprising a first portion and a mating second portion;

said first portion being sized and shaped to fit within the front portion of the outer shell;

said second portion being sized and shaped to fit within the rear portion of the outer shell;

means for securing the helmet to the head of the wearer;

means for removably attaching said front portion to said rear portion comprising;

a series of mating orifices in said front portion and in said rear portion, said orifices being disposed adjacent an intersection between said front portion and said rear portion;

a flexible cable, said cable having a first predetermined cross-section, a first end and a second end and being sized and shaped to fit slidably through said mating orifices;

said cable being threaded through said mating orifices and securing said front portion to said rear portion;

means for removably attaching said first end to either of the front and rear portions of said rigid, outer shell comprising;

a cable terminator, said cable terminator having a first end, a second end and a cross-section no larger than said first predetermined cross-section;

said cable terminator being fixedly attached at its first end to the first end of the flexible cable;

the second end of said cable terminator including a notch;

a retaining clip, said retaining clip having a first end and a second end and being fixedly attached at its first end to the rigid outer shell;

said retaining clip being formed of rigid material, having a U-shaped cross-section, being sized and shaped to fit frictionally about said cable terminator and including a pair of protruding tabs, said tabs being sized, shaped, and disposed to removably engage the notch in the second end of said terminator;

means for applying tension to said second end and withdrawing said cable from said mating orifices;

whereby, when the cable terminator is pressed into the second end of the retaining clip, with the protruding tabs engaging the notch in the second ends of the cable terminator, the first end of the cable will be removably attached to the shell; and

whereby, when said first end of said cable is detached from said shell, the cable may be withdrawn from the mating orifices and the front portion separated from the rear portion.

13. A helmet, as described in either claim 10, 11, or 12, further comprising means for rapidly removing the flexible cable to separate the front portion of the helmet from the rear portion.

14. A helmet, as described in claim 13 wherein the means for rapidly removing the flexible cable further comprises:

a first removable access panel, said first access panel covering the means for removably attaching the first end of the cable to the to the rigid outer shell; and

a second removable access panel, said second access panel covering the second end of the flexible cable and a means to apply tension to the cable for its removal.

15. A helmet as described in claim 14 wherein said first removable access panel further comprises:

at least one tensioning element, said tensioning element being attached to an underside of said first access panel and being sized, shaped and disposed to engage a portion of said flexible cable; and

said tensioning element imparting tension to said cable while securing said first access panel to the helmet.

11. A helmet, comprising:

a rigid, outer shell, said outer shell comprising a front portion and a mating rear portion, each of said front and rear portions having a lower surrounding edge;

said front portion including an opening to provide forward visibility for a wearer;

a resilient, padded inner liner, said liner comprising a first portion and a mating second portion;

said first portion being sized and shaped to fit within the front portion of the outer shell;

said second portion being sized and shaped to fit within the rear portion of the outer shell;

means for securing the helmet to the head of the wearer;

means for removably attaching said front portion to said rear portion comprising;

a series of mating orifices in said front portion and in said rear portion, said orifices being disposed adjacent an intersection between said front portion and said rear portion;

a flexible cable, said cable having a first predetermined cross-section, a first end and a second end and being sized and shaped to fit slidably through said mating orifices;

said cable being threaded through said mating orifices and securing said front portion to said rear portion;

means for removably attaching said first end to either of the front and rear portions of said rigid, outer shell comprising;

a cable terminator, said cable terminator having a first end, a second end and a cross-section no larger than said first predetermined cross-section;

said cable terminator being fixedly attached at its first end to the first end of the flexible cable;

the second end of said cable terminator including a central stem and a securing portion attached to said stem;

a retaining clip, said retaining clip having a first end and a second end and being fixedly attached at its first end to the rigid outer shell;

said retaining clip being formed of rigid material, having a U-shaped cross-section, being sized and shaped to fit frictionally about said cable terminator and including a pair of protruding tabs, said tabs being sized, shaped, and disposed to removably surround the central stem of the second end of the cable terminator;

means for applying tension to said second end and withdrawing said cable from said mating orifices;

whereby, when the cable terminator is pressed into the second end of the retaining clip, with the protruding tabs surrounding the central stem of the second end of the cable terminator, the first end of the cable will be removably attached to the shell; and

whereby, when said first end of said cable is detached from said shell, the cable may be withdrawn from the mating orifices and the front portion separated from the rear portion.

12. A helmet, comprising:

a rigid, outer shell, said outer shell comprising a front portion and a mating rear portion, each of said front and rear portions having a lower surrounding edge;

said front portion including an opening to provide forward visibility for a wearer;

a resilient, padded inner liner, said liner comprising a first portion and a mating second portion;

said first portion being sized and shaped to fit within the front portion of the outer shell;

said second portion being sized and shaped to fit within the rear portion of the outer shell;

means for securing the helmet to the head of the wearer;

means for removably attaching said front portion to said rear portion comprising;

a series of mating orifices in said front portion and in said rear portion, said orifices being disposed adjacent an intersection between said front portion and said rear portion;

a flexible cable, said cable having a first predetermined cross-section, a first end and a second end and being sized and shaped to fit slidably through said mating orifices;

said cable being threaded through said mating orifices and securing said front portion to said rear portion;

means for removably attaching said first end to either of the front and rear portions of said rigid, outer shell comprising;

an adhesive container, said container having a first end and a second end and being fixedly attached at its first end to the rigid, outer shell;

the second end of said container being sized and shaped to constrain the first end of the cable;

an adhesive, said adhesive being poured into the second end of the adhesive container and over the first end of the cable and allowed to dry;

means for applying tension to said second end and withdrawing said cable from said mating orifices;

whereby, when said adhesive has dried, the first end of the cable will be removably attached to the rigid, outer shell until sufficient tension is directed to second end of the cable to separate the first end of the cable from the adhesive container, thereby permitting removal of the cable from the helmet; and

whereby, when said first end of said cable is detached from said shell, the cable may be withdrawn from the mating orifices and the front portion separated from the rear portion.

16. A helmet, comprising:

a rigid, outer shell, said outer shell comprising a front portion and a mating rear portion, each of said front and rear portions having a lower surrounding edge;

said front portion including an opening to provide forward visibility for a wearer;

means for removably attaching said front portion to said rear portion comprising;

a series of mating orifices in said front portion and in said rear portion, said orifices being disposed adjacent an intersection between said front portion and said rear portion;

a flexible cable, said cable having a first predetermined cross-section, a first end and a second end and being sized and shaped to fit slidably through said mating orifices;

at least one securing latch, said securing latch having a first portion, a mating second portion and means for removably attaching said first portion to said second portion, thereby securing said front portion to said rear portion;

said first portion having an inner end and an outer end and being fixedly attached to the front portion of the shell;

said second portion having an inner end and an outer end and being fixedly attached to the rear portion of the shell;

said first and second portions including mating openings that are collinear when the first portion is disposed adjacent the second portion;

said cable being threaded through said mating orifices and said mating openings;

said cable including means for unfastening the means for removably attaching the first portion of the securing latch to the second portion;

means for removably attaching the first end of the cable to the rigid shell;

means for withdrawing the cable from said mating orifices and the mating openings;

a resilient, padded inner liner, said liner comprising a first portion and a mating second portion;

said first portion being sized and shaped to fit within the front portion of the outer shell;

said second portion being sized and shaped to fit within the rear portion of the outer shell;

means for securing the helmet to the head of the wearer; and

whereby, when the first end of the cable is detached from the rigid shell, the cable may be withdrawn from the mating orifices and the mating openings, thereby unfastening the means for removably attaching the first portion of the securing latch to the second portion and the front portion of the helmet to be separated from the rear portion.

17. A helmet, as described in claim 16, wherein the means for removably attaching the first portion of the securing latch to the second portion and the means for unfastening the means for removably attaching the first portion of the securing latch to the second portion further comprise:

a pivot pin, said pivot pin being fixedly attached to said second portion between its inner end and its outer end perpendicular to a long axis of said second portion;

a latching element, said latching element having a first end, a second end, a first edge, a second edge, a top surface, a bottom surface and an orifice extending from said first edge to said second edge;

said latching element being rotatably mounted at said orifice to said pivot pin;

a resilient engaging finger, said finger extending downwardly from the bottom surface of said latching element;

a receiving notch, said notch being disposed in said first portion between its inner end and its outer end so as to frictionally engage said resilient finger when the latching element is rotated to a first, closed position;

an unfastening protrusion, said protrusion extending downwardly from the bottom surface of said latching element and being disposed to obscure a portion of the mating openings when the latching element is rotated to the first, closed position;

a dislodging element, said dislodging element having a cross-section greater that the first predetermined cross-section, being capable of fitting slidably within the mating openings in the securing latch and being fixedly attached to the flexible cable at a point where the dislodging element will pass through the mating openings of the securing latch when the cable is withdrawn from the helmet;

said dislodging element bearing upon the unfastening protrusion as the cable is withdrawn from the helmet, thereby causing the latching element to pivot upwardly to a second, open position and dislodging the resilient engaging finger from the receiving notch, permitting the front portion of the securing latch to be separated from the rear portion and the front portion of the helmet to be separated from the rear portion.