Helmet with integrated electronics and helmet visor controls

• US 9,955,049 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Sports Incorporated (Easton-Bell Sports Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bell Sports Incorporated (Easton-Bell Sports Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pritz, Ben D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collier, Jameson
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANGINE, HEATHER N
• Application Number:
  US14/812,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 2422, 2 63, 2 65, 2 67, 2 15, 2 5, 2410, 362105, 362106, 351155
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/22 Visors
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/227 with sun visors, e.g. peaks above face opening

Abstract

A helmet can include a helmet body comprising an energy-absorbing layer and an outer shell disposed over the energy-absorbing layer. An electronic device can be integrated with the helmet body. A first electrical contact can be formed at an exterior of the outer shell and adapted to be in electrical communication with the electronic device. A helmet visor can be coupled to the helmet body with at least one visor arm, the helmet visor comprising controls integrated within the visor. A second electrical contact can be formed at an inner surface of the at least one visor arm and adapted to be in electrical communication with the controls integrated within the visor. The second electrical contact can be adapted to mateably couple with the first electrical contact such that the electronic device and the controls are adapted to be in electrical contact.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

a helmet body comprising an energy-absorbing layer and an outer shell disposed over, and coupled to, the energy-absorbing layer, wherein the energy-absorbing layer comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polyurethane (EPU), or expandable polyolefin (EPO);

an electronic device integrated with the helmet body;

a first electrical contact formed at an exterior of the outer shell and adapted to be in electrical communication with the electronic device;

a helmet visor coupled to the helmet body with at least one visor arm, the helmet visor comprising controls integrated within the visor; and

a second electrical contact formed at an inner surface of the at least one visor arm and positioned such that an interface between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is formed, the second electrical contact and the first electrical contact being in electrical communication with each other through the interface, the second electrical contact being in electrical communication with the controls integrated within the visor, the second electrical contact being mateably coupled with the first electrical contact at the interface between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact such that the electronic device and the controls integrated within the visor are in electrical contact with each other through the interface.

2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the helmet visor is releasably coupled to the helmet body.

3. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the controls integrated within the helmet visor are formed as a plurality of buttons.

4. The helmet of claim 3, wherein the plurality of buttons collectively comprise a unitary protective cover adapted to prevent debris from contaminating the plurality of buttons.

5. The helmet of claim 3, wherein the controls are disposed on an underside of the helmet visor at a position that is within a field of view of the helmet, such that the controls are visible by a helmet user when the helmet is worn by the helmet user.

6. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the electronic device integrated with the helmet body comprising a video recording device with a lens disposed over the outer shell.

7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the at least one visor arm comprises a first visor arm and a second visor arm opposite the first visor arm, the first visor arm and the second visor arm being adapted to be coupled to the helmet body near an upper corner of a helmet faceport.

8. A helmet comprising:

a helmet body comprising an outer shell;

an electronic device integrated with the helmet body;

a first electrical contact formed at an exterior of the outer shell of the helmet body and adapted to be in electrical communication with the electronic device;

a helmet visor coupled to the helmet body with at least one visor arm, the helmet visor comprising controls integrated within the visor; and

a second electrical contact formed at an inner surface of the at least one visor arm and positioned such that an interface between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact is adapted to mateably couple the first electrical contact with the second electrical contact at the interface such that the electronic device and the controls integrated within the visor are in electrical contact with each other through the first electrical contact, the second electrical contact, and the interface.

9. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the helmet visor is releasably coupled to the helmet body.

10. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the controls integrated within the helmet visor are formed as a plurality of buttons.

11. The helmet of claim 10, wherein the controls are disposed on an underside of the helmet visor at a position that is within a field of view of the helmet, such that the controls are visible by a helmet user when the helmet is worn by the helmet user.

12. The helmet of claim 10, wherein the plurality of buttons collectively comprise a unitary protective cover adapted to prevent debris from contaminating the plurality of buttons.

13. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the electronic device integrated with the helmet body comprising a video recording device with a lens disposed over the outer shell.

14. The helmet of claim 8, further comprising:

the at least one visor arm comprising a first visor arm and a second visor arm opposite the first visor arm, the first visor arm and the second visor arm being adapted to be coupled to the helmet body near an upper corner of a helmet faceport; and

the helmet body comprising an energy-absorbing layer including at least one of expanded polypropylene, expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, or expanded polyolefin.