Title: Device for unlocking the rotation of a crash-helmet chin guard
Abstract: A releasing device for enabling rotation of a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash helmet, in particular a helmet for motor-cyclists, which comprises at least one mechanism for engagement/release of the chin guard with respect to the cap, first means for actuation of the engagement/release mechanism and second means for inhibition of release, in which said first and second means can be actuated by the user. The aforesaid second means for inhibition of release prevent, when not actuated by the user, operation of the first actuation means and/or of the engagement/release mechanism.
Patent Number: 7,024,704 Issued on 04/11/2006 to Gafforio, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Gafforio; Luca (Comun Nuovo, IT);
Salvetti; Alberto (Bergamo, IT);
Tomasoni; Gabriele (Bariano, IT)
|
| Assignee:
|
OPTICOS S.r.l. (Brembate di Sopra, IT)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
873762 |
| Filed:
|
June 23, 2004 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Current U.S. Class: |
2/424 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
A42B 1/08 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
2/424,63,65
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 5813048 | Sep., 1998 | Thom.
| |
| 6212689 | Apr., 2001 | Lee.
| |
| 6226803 | May., 2001 | Tanaka.
| |
| 6249918 | Jun., 2001 | Lacroix.
| |
| 2003/0182716 | Oct., 2003 | Wu.
| |
| 2005/0015861 | Jan., 2005 | Gafforio et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 0 638 253 | Feb., 1995 | EP.
| |
| 0 895 726 | Feb., 1999 | EP.
| |
| 1 183 957 | Mar., 2002 | EP.
| |
Primary Examiner: Lindsey; Rodney M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A releasing device for enabling rotation of a chin guard, hinged to the sides
of the cap of a crash helmet, in particular for motor-cyclists, of the type which
comprises at least one engagement/release mechanism for engagement/release of the
chin guard with respect to the cap, first actuation means of said at least one
engagement/release mechanism, and second inhibition means for inhibiting release,
said first and second means being actuatable by a user, said device being characterized
in that said second means prevent, when not actuated by the user, operation of
said first actuation means and/or of said at least one engagement/release mechanism.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first means comprise
at least one control element, which can move between a position of actuation of
said at least one engagement/release mechanism and an inoperative position with
respect to said engagement/release mechanism, and in that said second means prevent,
when not actuated by the user, displacement of said control element from said inoperative
position to said position of actuation of the engagement/release mechanism.
3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said second inhibition
means comprise at least one removable arrest, which engages, by interposition of
parts, said first actuation means and/or said engagement/release mechanism.
4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that said arrest can move
between a position of engagement with said control element and a position of disengagement
from the latter.
5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said second inhibition
means comprise a two-armed lever, one of the two arms being equipped with, or coinciding
with, said arrest.
6. The device according to claim 5, in which said lever is mounted elastically
on said chin guard or on said cap.
7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first actuation
means are equipped with at least one control element consisting of a slider translatable
along a given path (B).
8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said slider is slidably
mounted on said chin guard or on said cap.
9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that said slider is mounted
on said chin guard or on said cap in a rotatable way.
10. The device according to claim 8, in which said inhibition means, when not
actuated by the user, prevent rotation and/or translation of said slider.
11. The device according to claim 7, in which there are present two engagement/release
mechanisms set in positions corresponding to the opposite sides of the cap and
which is characterized in that said control element is single and is set on the
chin guard in a central position and/or outside the latter.
12. The device according to claim 7, in which said slider is mounted on said
chin guard and is rotatable between a position projecting outside said chin guard
and a position flush therewith.
13. The device according to claim 12, in which said slider is withheld elastically
in said position flush with the chin guard.
14. The device according to claim 12, in which said inhibition means, when not
actuated by the user, prevent translation and/or rotation of said slider.
15. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first actuation
means comprise at least one tie rod for connection between a mobile control element
and said at least one engagement/release mechanism.
16. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first means for
actuation of said engagement/release mechanism can be actuated by the user according
to a direction (B), which is incident with respect to the direction of actuation
(A) of said second inhibition means.
17. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first actuation
means can be actuated by the user in a sense opposite, at least with respect to
one direction, to the sense of actuation of said second inhibition means.
18. A crash helmet for motor-cyclists of the type which comprises a rotatable
chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of the helmet, characterized in that
it comprises a releasing device for enabling rotation of said chin guard according
to claim 1.
19. A method for releasing and enabling rotation of a chin guard hinged to the
sides of the cap of a crash helmet, in particular a helmet for motor-cyclists,
and constrained thereto by means of at least one mechanism for engagement/release
for disabling/enabling rotation of the chin guard with respect to the cap, said
helmet comprising first means for actuation of said engagement/release mechanism
and second means for inhibition of release, said first and second means being actuatable
by a user and said second means preventing, when not actuated by the user, operation
of said first actuation means and/or of said at least one engagement/release mechanism,
said method being characterized by the steps of:
actuating first said second inhibition means for enabling the operation of said
first actuation means and/or of said at least one engagement/release mechanism; and
then actuating said first means for actuation of the engagement/release mechanism.
20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that said step of actuating
said first means for actuation of the engagement/release mechanism takes place
whilst said second inhibition means continue to be actuated.
Description
This application claims priority to EP Application No. 03425497.9, filed Jul.
25, 2003. The entire contents of this application is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a releasing device for enabling rotation of
a chin guard (i.e. to a device for unhooking the rotation of a crash-helmet chin
guard) hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash helmet, in particular for motor-cyclists,
of the type which comprises at least one mechanism for engagement/release of the
chin guard with respect to the cap and means for actuation of the engagement/release
mechanism having at least one control element which can be actuated by the user.
A known technique is to equip crash helmets for motor-cyclists with a portion
for
protecting the chin of the user, also referred to as chin guard, which is made
separately from the cap designed to protect the motor-cyclist's head and is pivoted
to said cap on the lateral surfaces of the latter. This solution likewise envisages
that the chin guard may be rotated from a raised position, in which the chin guard
is set above the window of the helmet (in which the visor is present) to a lowered
position, in which the chin guard is set in a position corresponding to the chin
and the mouth of the user.
In the latter position, the chin guard is withheld against the cap by one or
more
engagement/release mechanisms, so that the helmet may be likened, to all effects,
to the type of helmet commonly defined as integral. As compared to the latter type,
in which the chin guard cannot be tilted back with respect to the cap, helmets
with chin guards that can be tilted back offer considerable advantages for the
motor-cyclist as regards putting on and taking off the helmet and as regards putting
on and taking off his goggles, and furthermore, in the case of stops, this type
of helmet enables the motor-cyclist to have a greater degree of freedom, without
him having to remove the helmet from his head.
The engagement/release mechanism is consequently in this case designed to prevent,
in a non-permanent way, relative rotation of the chin guard with respect to the
cap and thus to prevent any accidental impact, or the flow of air that impinges
on the helmet during motion, or any improper use of the helmet from causing undesirable
lifting of the chin guard itself.
The engagement/release mechanism usually comprises at least one pawl (or hook),
which is fixed to the chin guard and is removably engageable with a corresponding
seat (or pin) made on the cap (or vice versa) and is operatively connected to manual
actuation means, which enable the user to release the pawl from its seat and thus
to rotate and raise the chin guard.
Known to the art are crash helmets provided with raisable chin guards, in which
two engagement and release devices of the type referred to above are set laterally
on the chin guard, and each of them is equipped with a lever (or alternatively
with a slider or a push-button) for manual actuation, designed to disengage the
pawl from the corresponding seat. In order to be able to release the chin guard
from the cap, the user must therefore act simultaneously on both of the levers
(or sliders or push-buttons) for manual actuation and then rotate the chin guard.
The above solution forces the motor-cyclist to use both hands simultaneously
and consequently, whilst rendering rather difficult any accidental release of the
chin guard itself, involves a certain difficulty of actuation.
Recent embodiments of crash helmets equipped with raisable chin guards envisage
two engagement/release mechanisms set symmetrically on the side walls of the chin
guard, as well as means for actuation of the engagement/release mechanism consisting
of just one mobile control element, which, when actuated by the user, is able to
release both of the pawls from the corresponding seats simultaneously.
In particular, the mobile control element may be a slider, a push-button, or a
lever, which, being mounted in a translatable way on the chin guard, has an outer
region, on which the user may exert an appropriate force of translation, or rotation,
and an inner region shaped for constraining one or more tie rods, which are operatively
connected to the engagement/release mechanisms. The slider is in this case translatable
between an inoperative position with respect to the engagement/release mechanisms
and a position for actuation of the tie rods, which causes release of the chin
guard from the cap.
A releasing (unlocking) device of the type referred to above is, for example,
described
in the German patent application DE-A-4040172, filed in the name of BMW, and in
the European patent application EP-A-0518178, which is also filed in the name of BMW.
The above releasing devices equipped with a single actuating slider or push-button,
albeit undoubtedly effective and simple to use, are, however, subject to considerable
limits as regards their reliability of use and sometimes may induce the motor-cyclist
to resort to improper manoeuvring of the system for actuation of the engagement/release mechanisms.
In fact, the presence of just one element for actuation of the engagement/release
mechanisms makes it particularly simple for the user to actuate the releasing device
with just one hand even when the vehicle is moving, and may likewise not prevent
involuntary release of the chin guard by the user, when the latter is performing
the normal operations of opening the visor or the ventilation devices present on
the helmet chin guard itself.
With a view to increasing safety of use of said devices, the patent application
EP-A-0972461 (in the name of SHOEI) proposes mounting the slider for actuation
of the engagement/release mechanisms on the chin guard so that the direction and
the sense of translation of the slider will be different from and opposite to those
for raising the chin guard.
The above solution, albeit rendering difficult any undesirable or involuntary
raising of the chin guard, is unable to prevent accidental rotation of the chin
guard effectively when the slider undergoes impact in its direction of translation.
It is in fact sufficient that, in the instant in which the slider is accidentally
displaced in its actuation position, the helmet is subjected to oscillations or
impact acting in a direction different from that of translation of the slider,
to cause raising of the chin guard.
Furthermore, it is always possible that the user may involuntarily displace
the slider connected to the engagement/release mechanisms during while the motor
vehicle is in motion and then impose an albeit limited rotation on the chin guard
which can set the hooks or pawls out of line with respect to the pins or seats
and prevent, upon release of the slider, the engagement/release mechanisms from
returning to the position where they withhold the chin guard itself, with the consequent
risk of a subsequent accidental opening of the chin guard.
It is consequently a purpose of the present invention to provide a releasing
device
for enabling rotation of a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash
helmet, in particular for motor-cyclists, which will not present the drawbacks
of the known art, and one which will reduce as far as possible the risk of the
user performing involuntary manoeuvres that might cause any accidental rotation
of the chin guard itself with respect to the cap of the helmet. Such a solution
will thus ensure considerable safety of use.
Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide a releasing device
for enabling rotation of a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash
helmet, in particular for motor-cyclists, distinguished by presenting a high ergonomic
level and a high degree of reliability and by being easy to make and inexpensive
to manufacture.
A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a crash helmet for motor-cyclists
which, having a device for releasing a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap,
will be practical and simple to use in those situations in which, with the vehicle
stationary, the chin guard has to be opened with just one hand, i.e., without having
to (or without being able to) act simultaneously on the engagement/release mechanisms
with both hands, as for example in the case of a stop for refuelling at a service
station, a motorway toll-gate, traffic lights, etc.
Another purpose of the present invention is to propose a method for the use
of a crash helmet provided with raisable chin guard which will prevent the user
from performing involuntary manoeuvres such as might cause accidental or dangerous
rotations of the chin guard itself with respect to the cap of the helmet.
These and other purposes are achieved by the releasing device for enabling
rotation of a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash helmet according
to the first independent claim and the subsequent dependent claims, by the helmet
according to Claim
18, and by the method for releasing and enabling rotation
of a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash helmet according to the
independent Claim
19.
According to the present invention, the releasing device for enabling rotation
of a chin guard hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash helmet, in particular
for motor-cyclists, comprises at least one mechanism for engagement/release of
the chin guard with respect to the cap, first means for actuation of the engagement/release
mechanism, and second means for inhibition of release, in which said first and
second means can be actuated by the user. The aforesaid second means for inhibition
of release prevent, when not actuated by the user, operation of the first actuation
means and/or of the engagement/release mechanism.
Consequently, the solution claimed not only forces the user to act
simultaneously on two separate control means to obtain release and enabling of
rotation of the chin guard, but also imposes on the user the need to actuate said
separate control means according to a pre-defined sequence; i.e., said solution
envisages that the user will first set in operation auxiliary means of inhibition
designed to enable subsequent operation of the means for actuating the device for
releasing the chin guard from the cap, and will then act on the aforesaid actuation
means, keeping the inhibition means simultaneously actuated so as to be able to
raise the chin guard.
The above procedure substantially prevents involuntary actuation of the releasing
device, for example on account of erroneous operation of just the first actuation
means during execution of the normal manoeuvres for opening the visor and/or the
front ventilation devices, or else on account of an accidental impact; in this
way, any risk of accidental raising of the chin guard by the user is reduced, which
is particularly important when the vehicle is moving.
According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention,
the aforesaid first actuation means comprise at least one control element, which
can move between a position for actuation of the engagement/release mechanism and
an inoperative position as regards the engagement/release mechanism, and the second
inhibition means prevent, for example by contrast of parts, when not actuated by
the user, any displacement of the control element from the inoperative position
to the position for actuation of the engagement/release mechanism.
In this way, both the actuation means and the inhibition means can be mounted,
for example, on the chin guard, and the engagement/release mechanisms can be set
in operation to obtain release of the chin guard, by means of the steps of actuation
of the inhibition means, with the purpose of releasing the actuation means, and
of subsequently triggering the actuation means, for enabling rotation of the chin guard.
According to a particular feature of the present invention, the releasing
device for enabling rotation of the chin guard is provided with two devices for
engagement/release of the chin guard with respect to the cap, which are set on
opposite sides in positions corresponding to the sides of the cap, and with a single
control element, preferably a slider, designed for actuating both of the engagement/release
mechanisms. In this case, the means for inhibition of release comprise at least
one removable arrest, which engages, by interposition of parts, with the control
element and which can move between a position of engagement with the control element
and a position of disengagement from the latter.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a crash helmet for motor-cyclists, equipped with the releasing device for enabling
rotation of the chin guard referred to above, in which for release of the chin
guard it is necessary first to actuate the second inhibition means for enabling
operation of the first actuation means and/or of the engagement/release mechanism,
and then to actuate the first means for operation of the engagement/release mechanism.
In what follows, there will be illustrated two preferential embodiments of the
present invention, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with
reference to the attached figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a raisable chin guard of a crash helmet
for motor-cyclists, equipped with a device according to a particular aspect of
the present invention, in which the engagement/release mechanism of the chin guard
is not withheld by the actuation means;
FIG. 2 is the same view of the chin guard of FIG. 1, in which, however, the
engagement/release mechanism is withheld in the position of release by the actuation means;
FIGS. 3
a and 3
b are two perspective views, one of which
is exploded, of the chin guard and of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the device of FIGS. 1 to
3
b; and
FIGS. 5 to 7 are partial cross-sectional views of a releasing device for enabling
rotation according to a further aspect of the present invention, which illustrate
various steps of actuation of the device for releasing the chin guard from the cap.
With reference to FIGS. 1,
2,
3a,
3b and
4, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, the releasing device
for enabling rotation of a chin guard
10, which is hinged, in positions
corresponding to the projections
16,
16′, to the sides of
the cap (not illustrated) of a crash helmet for motor-cyclists, comprises two engagement/release
mechanisms
3,
3′ of the chin guard to/from the cap, first
actuation means
1,
5,
11,
2,
2′ of the
engagement/release mechanisms
3,
3′, which can be actuated
by the user, and second inhibition means
6,
7,
8 and
9
for preventing release of the chin guard, which can also be actuated by the user.
In the embodiment illustrated, when not actuated by the user, the means
6,
7,
8,
9 for inhibition of release of the chin guard
10
prevent, by contrast of parts, operation of the actuation means
1,
5,
11,
2,
2′ and, at the same time (in embodiments not
illustrated) said inhibition means
6,
7,
8,
9 may also
prevent, for example by interposition of mechanical parts, operation of the engagement/release
mechanisms
3,
3′ by for instance not enabling their displacement.
In particular, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3
b, each of the engagement/release
mechanisms of the chin guard
10 to/from the cap comprises, according to
a known technique, a rotatable pawl
3,
3′, which is hinged
to the chin guard
10 itself along one of its internal side walls and is
designed to engage with a corresponding seat, or pin, provided in a position corresponding
to a side of the cap. The pawls
3,
3′ are operatively connected
to the means for actuation of the engagement/release mechanisms by means of the
tie rods
2,
2′, which extend between a control element
1,
which can be actuated by the user, and the pawls
3,
3′ themselves.
The tie rods
2,
2′ perform the function of transmitting
the motion exerted by the user on the control element
1 onto the rotatable
pawls
3,
3′ so as to impose on the latter a rotation which
will be able to disengage the pawls
3,
3′ themselves from
the corresponding seats of the cap in order to enable raising of the chin guard
10.
In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), said tie rods
2,
2′
may be replaced by a single tie rod (as, for example, described in the patent DE-A-4040172)
or by any other kinematic chain capable of transmitting the motion imposed by the
user on the control element
1 for controlling the actuation means to the
engagement/release mechanisms, when this transmission of motion is not prevented
by the aforesaid inhibition means
6,
7,
8 and
9, with
the purpose of enabling disengagement of the chin guard
10 from the cap.
The means for actuation of the device, represented in FIGS. 1 to 4, comprise,
in greater detail, a slider
1 mounted slidably, so that it can move according
to the direction indicated by the arrow B, within a guide window
11 made
on a central portion of the chin guard
10, and a fixed structure
5,
which is also constrained to the chin guard
10 by means of rivets or screws
that are housed within seats
15, and is equipped with two guide portions
13,
13′, on which there are slidably constrained two tie rods
2,
2′, connected to the pawls
3,
3′.
The slider
1 comprises two fastener (claw) elements
12,
12′
(which can be seen in FIG. 3
a), designed to withhold one end of the two
tie rods
2,
2′, and a projection
4, which protrudes
outside the chin guard
10 and on which the user may exert a force of translation
for the slider
1 itself, directed according to the arrow B. The slider
1,
when not withheld by the aforesaid inhibition means
6,
7,
8,
9, is thus able to move between an inoperative position (FIG. 1) with respect
to the engagement/release mechanisms, in which the tie rods
2,
2′
do not act on the pawls
3,
3′, and an actuation position (FIG.
2) of said devices, in which the tie rods
2,
2′ withhold said
pawls
3,
3′ in a position shifted away from the corresponding
seats, or pins, of the cap.
The actuation means described above may also comprise elastic means (not illustrated
in the figures), designed to withhold the rotatable pawls
3,
3′
in a position of engagement with the seats of the cap. The aforesaid elastic means,
via the tie rods
2,
2′, may induce the slider
1 to
remain in its aforesaid inoperative position and may oblige the user to overcome
the force exerted by them in order to displace the slider
1 itself.
The external surface of the chin guard
10, at the sides of the guide window
11 in which the slider
1 slides, moreover has surrounding structures
for protecting the projection
4 so that it can be actuated only if the user
voluntarily exerts the force B at a point corresponding to the projection
4
itself, and not as a result, for example, of involuntary impact or other manoeuvres
of actuation of the visor or of the systems of ventilation normally located on
the chin guard.
The means for inhibiting release that are present in the device of FIGS. 1 to
4 comprise an arrest
6 assembled on the chin guard
10 so that it
can move between a position of engagement, by contrast of parts, with the slider
1 (visible in FIG. 1) and a position of disengagement from said slider
1
(visible in FIG. 2). The arrest
6 coincides, in the particular embodiment
of the device according to the present invention described herein, with one of
the arms of a two-armed safety lever
6,
7, which is constrained elastically
in rotation to the support
5 by means of a pin
8 and a retention
spring
9. The support
5 is accordingly provided with a seat
14,
14′ for the pin
8 and is rendered fixed to the chin guard
itself
10 by threaded means, which engage in the holes
15.
The retention spring
9, in the absence of external forces, pushes the
arrest
6 into engagement with the slider
1, so preventing any translation
of the latter in the sense indicated by the arrow B.
The other arm
7 of the two-armed lever projects from a central bottom
portion of the chin guard
10 and enables the user to control rotation, in
the direction and sense indicated by the arrow A, of the lever
6,
7
about the pin
8, by overcoming the resistance exerted by the spring
9,
in order to displace the arrest
6 from its position of engagement with the
slider
1.
When the user wishes to raise the chin guard
10 with respect to the cap
of the crash helmet, starting from the situation illustrated in FIG. 1, in which
the chin guard
10 is lowered and is withheld by the devices
3,
3′,
he must act first on the lever
6,
7, pushing the arm
7 in
the sense indicated by the arrow A, to counteract the force exerted by the spring
9 so as to disengage the arrest
6 from the slider
1.
Then, keeping the lever
6,
7 rotated and acting on the projection
4, the user must impose on the slider
1, which is now free to displace
within the guide defined by the window
11 and by the support
5, a
translation in the sense indicated by the arrow B, which is able to actuate the
tie rods
2,
2′ and, in this way, to cause rotation of the
pawls
3,
3′ and their consequent disengagement from the corresponding
seats or pins of the cap (see FIG. 2). At this point, the user can rotate the chin
guard
10, by acting directly on the latter, into a raised position with
respect to the cap. The displacements A and B, in the aforesaid correct succession,
may for example be performed, respectively, with the thumb and forefinger of just
one hand; the consequent release of the chin guard and the rotation of opening
thereof are consequently simple, practical and ergonomic.
The lever
6,
7, which is pivoted elastically to the support
5
thanks to the pin
8 and to the spring
9, consequently forces the
user who wishes to open the chin guard
10, firstly to actuate the lever
6,
7, and next to actuate the slider
1, and only then, with
these two prior actions maintained simultaneously operative, is it possible for
him to start rotating the chin guard with respect to the cap.
Likewise, said lever
6,
7, which, together with the pin
8
and the spring
9, constitutes the aforesaid means for inhibition of release,
substantially behaves as a safety lever since it is unlikely that the aforesaid
sequence may arise by accident.
In one embodiment (not illustrated), with the purpose of increasing the reliability
of the device according to the present invention, in accordance with a known technique,
the engagement/release mechanisms, and in particular the pawls
3,
3′
of FIGS. 1,
2,
3a and
3b, may be equipped with
individual actuation means (such as, for example, levers, push-buttons or sliders),
which enable the user to disengage said pawls
3,
3′ from the
corresponding seats present on the cap of the helmet in a mutually separate way
and in a way independent of the actuation of the device according to the present
invention. In this way, in the case of possible malfunctioning or jamming of the
device for releasing the chin guard, the user is always able to release the chin
guard
10 with respect to the cap by acting simultaneously on the individual
means for actuation of the engagement/release mechanisms
3,
3′.
With reference now to FIGS. 5 to 7, described in what follows is a further embodiment
of the present invention, in which the slider for actuation of the tie rods is
set in, in its inoperative position, with respect to the engagement/release mechanisms,
flush with the outer surface of the chin guard, and therefore requires, for its
displacement by the user, a prior rotation, which will enable its extraction.
More in particular, the releasing device for enabling rotation of a chin guard
110 hinged to the sides of the cap of a crash helmet for motor-cyclists,
illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, comprises at least one device (not shown) for engaging/releasing
the chin guard
110 with respect to the cap of the helmet, means for actuation
of said device equipped with a slider
101, which is constrained in a slidable
and rotatable way to the chin guard
110 itself, and inhibition means, which
have a two-armed safety lever
106, which acts by contrast of parts on the
slider
101.
The slider
101 comprises: an actuation portion
104, which is built-in,
in a resting position of the slider
101 itself, within an opening
111
made frontally on the chin guard
110; a front projection
114, which
rests on the safety lever
106, a rear projection
115, which rests
on of a support
120; and an end region, which has the conformation of a
cam or a pin
117 for engagement with the aforesaid lever
106.
The slider
101 is moreover mounted in a rotatable way by means of a pin
113, which is inserted in a hole made in the aforesaid front projection
114, on a slide
119, which is in turn slidably mounted within a fixed
structure, or support,
120 constrained to the chin guard
110 by means
of screws or rivets, which are housed in appropriate seats made on the support
120 itself.
Said slide
119, and consequently the slider
101, is also operatively
connected to the engagement/release mechanism, for example by means of one or more
tie rods (not illustrated) so that its translation in the direction and sense indicated
by the arrow B will bring about disengagement of the chin guard
110 from
the cap of the crash helmet.
A spring
112, set between the slider
101 and the slide
119,
withholds the slider
101 itself in the resting position, in which the actuation
portion
104 is built-in within the opening
111, and the slider
101,
fixed to the slide
119, does not exert any action on the engagement/release
mechanisms of the chin guard
110.
In said resting (or inoperative) position, the bottom end of the portion
104
rests on a bottom edge of the opening
111, and the rear projection
115
rests on a top wall of the support
120, fixed to the chin guard
110,
so that translation of the slider
101 will be prevented by said supports.
For displacement in translation of the slider
101, in order to actuate
the devices for engagement/release of the chin guard
110 it is consequently
first necessary to rotate the slider
101, overcoming the resistance exerted
by the spring
112, about the pin
113 (as indicated by the arrow C)
and thus to obtain the consequent expulsion of the actuation portion
104
from the opening
111 and disengagement of the projection
115 from
the top wall of the support
120, so as to enable possible subsequent translation
in the direction and sense indicated by the arrow B of the slider
101, or
else of the slide
119, with respect to the chin guard
110.
The safety lever
106 comprises an arrest
116, located at one end
of an arm
118 of the lever
106 itself, and an actuation arm
107
located in opposition, with respect to the fulcrum of the lever
106 itself,
to the arrest
116. The fulcrum of the safety lever
106 consists of
a pin
108, which is constrained to the support
120 fixed to the chin
guard
110. A contrast spring
109, extending between the chin guard
110 and the arm
107, moreover withholds, in the absence of external
forces acting on the arm
107 itself, the lever
106 in a position
of support for the arrest
116 on the projection
114 of the slider
101. In this supporting position of the lever
106 on the slider
101,
the arrest
116 constitutes a further constraint to sliding of the latter.
The actuation arm
107 of the safety lever
106 moreover extends
advantageously inside the chin guard
110 and is protected against any accidental
impact by a shaped projection
121, which likewise constitutes a gripping
area for raising the chin guard itself
110.
The rotation of the lever
106 about its pin
108, obtained by overcoming
the resistance exerted by the spring
109, causes departure of the arrest
116 from the front projection
114, which is thus no longer resting
on the arrest
116, and the cam-like coupling of the arm
118 with
the pin
117, which causes rotation of the slider
101 about its pin
113 and the consequent expulsion of the actuation portion
104 from
the opening
111 of the chin guard
110.
In said position of the safety lever
106, translation in the sense indicated
by the arrow B of the slider
101 causes, at a given point of the translation
path of the slider, resting of the projection
115 of the slider
101
on the arrest
116 of the lever
106 so that said resting position
may constitute an end-of-travel arrest for the slider
101.
In the absence of external forces acting on the lever
106 and/or on the
slider
101, the contrast springs
109 and
112 withhold, respectively,
the safety lever
106 in the position of engagement of the arrest
116
with the supporting projection
114, and the slider
101 in the inoperative
position with respect to the engagement/release mechanisms, where the portion
104
is set inside the opening
111, as may be seen in FIG. 5.
For actuation of the engagement/release mechanisms to enable rotation of the
chin guard
110 from the cap of the crash helmet, the user, starting from
the position of engagement of FIG. 5, must thus actuate the safety lever
106
by acting on the arm
107 in the direction and sense indicated by the arrow
A in order to counteract the spring
109 so as to rotate said lever about
its pin
108 and thus simultaneously cause the projection
114 of the
slider
101 no longer to rest on the arrest
116 and induce a rotation
of the slider
101 about its pin
113, thanks to the cam-like coupling
between the curved lateral surface of the arm
118 of the lever
106
and the pin
117 of the slider
101.
Rotation of the slider
101 with respect to the pin
113 in
the direction and sense indicated by the arrow C (FIG. 6) causes expulsion of the
actuation portion
104 from the opening
111 of the chin guard
110
and disengagement of the rear projection
115 from the top edge of the support
120, so enabling the user to exert a force, having direction and sense indicated
by the arrow B, sufficient to translate the slider
101 and the slide
119
downwards so as to obtain release of the chin guard
110 from the cap of
the helmet as a result of the tensile force exerted by the tie rods which connect
the cap to the engagement/release mechanisms.
The end of the travel of translation of the slider
101 (as may be seen
in FIG. 7) is provided both by the contrast of parts between the bottom edge of
the opening
111 and the actuation portion
104 and by the resting
of the rear projection
115 on the arrest
116 when the safety lever
106 is withheld by the user in a position of release and expulsion of the
portion
104 itself.
The displacements A of the safety lever
106 and B of the slider
101,
in the aforesaid correct succession, may for example be made, respectively, with
the thumb and forefinger of just one hand.
After obtaining, as described above, release of the chin guard
110 with
respect to the cap, the user can then raise the chin guard
110 by imposing
a rotation on the latter, preferably via the gripping area
121 and again
his thumb, which is already engaged for maintaining the displacement A. It follows
that release of the chin guard and rotation thereof for tilting it back are simple,
practical and ergonomic.
Release of the arm
107 and of the slider
101 by the user, thanks
to the return springs
112 and
109, enables the device described herein
to be brought back into the initial position represented in FIG. 5.
The structure of the device shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in addition to rendering rotation
of the safety lever
106 or of the slider
101 very difficult on account
of the different interposition of shaped parts provided and of the contrast springs
109,
112, is such that neither mere rotation of the lever
106
nor rotation of the slider
101 with respect to its pin
108 can cause
release of the chin guard
110 with respect to the cap of the helmet, which
is enabled only following upon the additional translation of the slider
101.
Consequently, according to the present invention, for releasing the
chin guard
10,
110 with respect to the cap, the user of a crash helmet
for motor-cyclists of the type which comprises a rotatable chin guard
10,
110, hinged to the sides of the cap of the helmet, and a releasing device
for enabling rotation of the chin guard
10,
110, provided with at
least one device
3,
3′ for engagement/release of the chin
guard to/from the cap, and with first means
1,
2,
2′,
5,
101,
112,
113,
119 for actuation of said
engagement/release mechanism, as well as with second inhibition means
6,
7,
8,
9,
106,
108,
109 for inhibiting
release, in which said first and second means can be actuated by the user and in
which the aforesaid second means
6,
7,
8,
9,
106,
108,
109 prevent, when not actuated, operation of the first actuation
means
1,
2,
2′,
5,
101,
112,
113,
119 and/or of the engagement/release mechanism
3,
3′,
must follow the steps of:
- firstly actuating the aforesaid second inhibition means 6, 7,
8, 9, 106, 108, 109 with the purpose of enabling
operation of the first actuation means 1, 2, 2′, 5,
101, 112, 113, 119 and/or of the engagement/release
mechanism 3, 3′;
- subsequently actuating the first actuation means 1, 2,
2′, 5, 101, 112, 113, 119 of the
engagement/release mechanism 3, 3′.
Preferably, actuation of the second inhibition means must be maintained
for a time interval sufficient for enabling subsequent actuation of the first means
so that the user can perform, only voluntarily and with just one hand, the unique
and correct sequence of said operations for releasing and enabling rotation of
the chin guard
10,
110, and only subsequently is it possible, once
again using the same hand already engaged in keeping actuated the second inhibition
means and the first actuation means, for him to rotate the chin guard.
The above method confers on the helmet of the present invention a high degree
of practicality and safety of use and at the same time guarantees a lower risk
of involuntary or accidental opening of the chin guard occurring both in the case
of improper use of the chin guard by the user (for example when the vehicle is
moving) and during execution of other manoeuvres frequently performed during use
of the helmet, such as opening or closing of the visor, actuation of the ventilation
systems present on the chin guard itself, or the mere operations of readjustment/repositioning
of the helmet on the user's head.
*
