HELMET PROVIDED WITH HALF CHIN GUARD

Abstract

A helmet (10) comprising a shell (11) and a chin guard half (14). The chin guard half (14) can be releasably connected to the shell (11).

Description

HELMET PROVIDED WITH HALF CHIN GUARD FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a protective helmet with a half-chin guard that can be used in the automotive racing and motorsports sectors, specifically, but not limited to, rally racing. However, applications of the present invention in the field of motorsports or other sectors that involve the use of protective helmets are not excluded. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In sports car racing, the use of a protective helmet by a user, for example, a driver and / or co-driver / navigator, is known. Typically, the helmet comprises a protective cap, or shell, which has a bottom opening for inserting the head and a front opening suitable for ensuring a field of vision for the user. There are so-called full-face helmets, in which the front opening is presented as a band in the area surrounding the eyes, limited at the bottom by a chin guard, also called a chin bar, continuous on both sides of the shell and integral with it. Open-face helmets, also known as jet helmets, typically lack a chin guard, with the front and bottom openings forming a single, continuous opening. These helmets offer the advantage of greater comfort and freedom of movement, while providing less protection than full-face helmets. In sports car racing, particularly in the rally sector, there is a known use of a particular helmet in which there is a half chin guard formed by a monolithic arm that extends cantilevered from one side of the front opening and ends substantially in correspondence with the user's mouth. An important aspect related to helmets with a half chin guard is related to their lack of safety during competition, especially in the event of an accident. For example, in the event of an accident, the chin guard can become lodged against objects in the passenger compartment, such as steering wheel spokes, seatbelts, armrests, roll bars, or even flying objects moving within the passenger compartment. In such circumstances, the chin guard's attachment can cause torsional impulses, or even actual twisting of the entire helmet, affecting the user's vertebrae. It is also known that the chin guard should be able to be removed, or at least moved away, from the user's face quickly and easily in the phases immediately following an accident, moving the user's head and neck as little as possible, so as not to risk aggravating any possible injuries. In fact, it may be necessary to remove or move the chin guard to facilitate breathing or to perform rescue operations, such as applying an external respirator or oxygen mask. One disadvantage of known helmets is that, in these circumstances, the chin guard can represent an obstacle to rescuers accessing the user's face. Some solutions involve the use of movable chin guards, for example, hinged on the sides of the helmet shell and rotatable up or down. These solutions have the drawback that, in the event of an accident involving impacts or collisions in the areas where the chin guard pivots on the housing, rotation could be limited or prevented. Other known solutions provide that the chin guard includes an elastic part, for example, made of a softer (or more brittle) material than the material from which the other parts of the helmet are made and / or that includes preferential break profiles. In these cases, in the event of an accident, the loose part of the chin guard could detach, effectively transforming it into a blunt object that could injure the user. On the other hand, if the chin guard remains attached to the helmet, first responders must apply enough force to break the loose part, risking causing or worsening any existing injuries to the user. These solutions also have the disadvantage that the helmet cannot be reused after an accidental break or minor damage to the flexible part. Solutions also exist where the chin guard is connected to the helmet via mechanical fasteners. Generally, in these solutions, for both aesthetic and functional reasons, the fasteners are located inside the shell or, at least, are covered by protective elements such as plastic plugs that are also connected to the shell. In the event of an accident, these solutions are particularly disadvantageous because removing the chin guard requires tools, such as screwdrivers or wrenches, suitable for manipulating the fasteners. These tools may not be immediately available to rescuers, thus slowing down rescue operations. Therefore, there is a need to perfect a helmet that can overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the state of the art. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide a helmet that is safer than helmets known in the prior art, particularly in the event of an accident. In particular, one objective of the present invention is to provide a helmet in which the chin guard can be quickly and easily removed from the user's face, particularly in the event of an accident. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a helmet in which the chin guard can be removed without the use of tools. Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve the above purposes, and others as well, without compromising the safety of the helmet, and in particular the impact resistance characteristics. The Applicant has devised, tested and implemented the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to achieve these and other purposes and advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims describe other features of the present invention or variations of the main inventive idea. In accordance with the above purposes, a helmet provided with a half chin guard, hereinafter referred to as the helmet, is described, which exceeds the limits of the state of the art and eliminates the defects present therein. According to some models, a helmet is provided comprising a shell suitable for containing a user's head inside. According to one aspect of the invention, the helmet also comprises a chin guard that can be selectively attached to or detached from the shell by means of a fastening device comprising a coupling portion and a manual actuating portion for the complete release of the coupling portion, accessible from outside the shell and / or the chin guard. In particular, the user can attach or detach the chin guard to or from the shell by manually operating the manual actuating portion of the fastening device. Since the manual operating part is located outside the housing and does not require specific tools for its operation, the removal of the chin guard half is simple and immediate. In preferred embodiments, the fastening device comprises a first fastening element, to which the manual operating portion is integral, and which is suitable for coupling with a second fastening element integrated into the housing. Furthermore, the chin guard may comprise a through-hole that engages with the second fastening element, and in a combined configuration, the first fastening element passes through the through-hole and engages with the second fastening element. The first fastening element may also comprise a flange suitable for pressing the chin guard half against the shell when the helmet is in the attached configuration, and, in preferred embodiments, the manually operated portion is arranged in the vicinity of the flange. In particular, the manually operated portion may comprise a gripping flap that is manually movable from a passive position, in which it is substantially parallel to the chin guard half, to a driving position, in which it is substantially perpendicular to the chin guard half. Preferably, the chin guard can be developed in a single body from a free end to a joining end, and the housing can comprise a joining seat with a shape that at least partially matches that of the joining end. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the joining seat comprises locking means suitable for defining a coupling of the same shape between the chin guard half and the housing. In particular, the joining end of the chin guard half may comprise at least one protruding portion shaped to be inserted into a suitable recess within the locking means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figures 1 to 4 are schematic representations of a helmet according to the present invention under different operating conditions; - Figures 5 and 6 are schematic representations of a section of the hull of the present invention under different operating conditions. To facilitate understanding, the same references have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that the elements and characteristics of one modality can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other modalities without further explanation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME MODALITIES We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. The phraseology and terminology used herein are also intended to provide non-limiting examples. Referring to Figures 1-4, the number (10) indicates a helmet (10) provided with a half chin guard (14), hereinafter referred to as helmet (10), which satisfies the purposes described above. The helmet (10) described herein may be used primarily in the field of motoring, but also in other fields, such as motorcycling or the practice of winter sports, such as skiing or snowboarding or snowboarding, or even the practice of paragliding or other sporting activities, whether civilian or professional, that require the use of protective helmets of the type in question. The helmet (10) of the present invention comprises a shell (11) suitable for enclosing at least a portion of a user's skull and padding (12) provided within the shell (11). During use, a portion of the user's skull is inside the shell (11) and adheres to the padding (12). The shell (11) may be provided with a pair of lateral extensions (13a), (13b) that at least partially enclose the sides of the user's skull and laterally define a front opening of the helmet (10). The shell (11) and the lateral extensions (13a), (13b) may be manufactured as a single unit from materials suitable for providing protection to the user in the event of an accident, such as polymeric materials, resins, composite materials, carbon fiber, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the padding (12) may be made of suitable materials to improve user comfort and to partially absorb shocks and impacts associated with possible accidents. The helmet (10) also comprises a chin guard (14) associated with the shell (11), in particular with one of the lateral extensions (13a), (13b). It is evident that a chin guard (14) can be mounted interchangeably on either of the lateral extensions (13a), (13b). The chin guard (14) may comprise a coating layer, for example, made of polymeric material, composite material, or carbon fiber, and one or more plastic bodies, which may be shaped to give the chin guard (14) suitable shapes and sizes. In addition, the chin guard (14) may comprise a microphone and / or bodies or assemblies configured to house and / or service the microphone, such as a filter for reducing background noise during transmission, devices for improving the quality of the audio signal, power cables, digital processing devices, and more. According to some modalities, the chin guard (14) is mounted in a releaseable cantilever and protruding with respect to the housing (11), and extends from a free end (14a) placed, during use, in correspondence with the user's mouth to a fixing end (14b) associated with the housing (11). According to one aspect of the invention, the chin guard (14) can be connected to / disconnected from the housing (11) by means of a fastening device (16) comprising a coupling part (20) and a manual actuating part (17). In particular, the manual actuating part (17) is suitable for the complete release of the coupling part (20) and is accessible from outside the housing (11) and / or the chin guard (14). Accordingly, it is possible to define a configuration of the helmet (10) attached in which the chin guard (14) is connected to the housing (11), and a configuration of the helmet (10) detached in which the chin guard (14) is disconnected from the housing (11). In particular, in the attached configuration, the manually operated part (17) of the fastening device (16) is outside the housing (11). By way of non-limiting example, Figure 1 shows the helmet (10) in the fixed configuration, while Figure 4 shows the helmet (10) in the detached configuration. In some embodiments, the fastening device (16) may comprise a first fastening element (18) suitable for coupling to a second fastening element (19) integrated into the housing (11). In this specific case, with reference to Figures 5-6, the first fastening element (18) and the second fastening element (19) comprise respectively a threaded stem (20a) and a threaded hole (20b), which constitute the coupling part (20). By way of example only, the second fastening element (19) can be laminated directly into the housing (11) during its manufacture or, alternatively, inserted into it by deformation. Furthermore, the chin guard (14) may also include a through-hole (22) for the first fastening element (18). In particular, in the fixed configuration of the helmet (10), the through-hole (22) may substantially overlap with the second fastening element (19) and passes through the first fastening element (18), which, with the threaded stem (20a), fits into the threaded hole (20b) of the second fastening element (19). According to some embodiments, the first fastening element (18) may comprise a flange (21) arranged substantially opposite the threaded stem (20a). The flange (21) acts on the chin guard (14) by pressing it from the outside into the housing (11) (Figure 5), stabilizing their connection. In other words, in the fixed configuration, the chin guard (14) is interposed between the flange (21) and the housing (11). According to preferred embodiments, the manually operated part (17) of the fastening device (16) is integral with the first fastening element (18) and is substantially arranged in correspondence with the flange (21). This configuration is advantageous because, in the fixed helmet configuration (10), the manual operating part (17) is outside the shell (11), making the fastening device (16) immediately accessible. This allows first responders to safely, easily, and quickly remove the chin guard (14) in the event of an accident, without subjecting the helmet (10), and therefore the user's head, to significant stress that could compromise the user's health. In this specific case, the manually operated part (17) may comprise a gripping tab (23) that can be manually moved from a passive to an engaged position. In the passive position, the gripping tab (23) is substantially parallel to the flange (21) (Figure 5), while during use it is substantially perpendicular to the flange (21) (Figure 6). When the gripping tab (23) is in use, i.e., in the engaged position, the manually operated part (17), and therefore the first fastening element (18), can be manually operated without the need for screwdrivers or special tools. This further speeds up any rescue operation, allowing, for example, a reduction in the time required to clear the airway of the helmet wearer (10). In some embodiments, at least one of the lateral extensions (13a), (13b) of the housing (11) may comprise a mounting seat (15) suitable for accommodating the mounting end (14b) of the chin guard (14). The mounting seat (15) may have a shape that at least partially matches that of the mounting end (14b) of the chin guard (14). In particular, the mounting seat (15) may be configured as a recess made in the housing (11), the perimeter (P) of which at least partially follows that of the mounting end (14b). This configuration is advantageous as it allows for easier centering of the passage hole (22) with the second joining element (19) during the connection of the chin guard (14) to the housing (11). In other embodiments, the fixing seat (15) may comprise locking means (24) suitable for defining a coupling of the same shape with the fixing end (14b) of the chin guard half (14). In fact, the fixing end (14b) may comprise one or more protruding parts (25) with a shape that engages with the locking means (24). In particular, with reference to Figures 5-6, the protruding part (25) may be inserted into a suitable recess (26) comprised in the locking means (24). This configuration allows for a preliminary alignment coupling between the chin guard (14) and the housing (11), facilitating the subsequent insertion of the first fixing element (18) into the passage hole (22) and the second joining element (19). Once inserted, the first fastening element (18) can be manually maneuvered by means of the manual drive part (17) and in particular the gripping tab (23), to couple the threaded hole (20b) of the second fastening element (19) with the threaded stem (20a). For example, the first fastening element (18) can be manually screwed in by operating the gripping tab (23). Once the coupling between the first fastening element (18) and the second fastening element (19) is established, the gripping tab (23) can be moved from the actuated position to the passive position. On the other hand, to disconnect the chin guard (14), a user can manually move the grip tab (23) from the passive position to the actuation position, and by means of the same grip tab (23) manually maneuver the first fixing element (18) to detach it from the second fixing element (19). For example, the first fastening element (18) can be manually unscrewed by operating the gripping tab (23). Once unhooked from the second fastening element (19), the first fastening element (18) can be removed from the through-hole (22) and the chin guard half (14) can be disconnected from the housing (11). Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the chin guard (14) can be attached / detached from the shell (11) multiple times without compromising the helmet's strength and durability. This allows the chin guard (14) to be replaced as needed, for example, if it is slightly damaged, or on a case-by-case basis, depending on the helmet's use. It is clear that modifications and / or additions of parts to the hull (10) can be made as described above, without going outside the field and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. In the following claims, the references in parentheses are for ease of reading only: they should not be considered as restrictive factors in relation to the scope of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. A helmet (10) comprising a shell (11) and a chin guard (14) releasably connected to said shell (11), characterized in that said chin guard (14) can be selectively connected / disconnected to / from said shell (11) by means of a fastening device (16) comprising a coupling part (20) and a manual actuating part (17) for the complete release of said coupling part (20), said manual actuating part (17) being accessible from the outside of said shell (11) and / or said chin guard (14).

2. The helmet (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said fastening device (16) comprises a first fastening element (18) suitable for coupling with a second fastening element (19) integrated into said housing (11) and in that said manual drive part (17) is integral with said first fastening element (18).

3. The helmet (10) in accordance with any of the preceding claims and which can assume a fixed configuration wherein said chin guard half (14) is connected to said housing (11), characterized in that said chin guard half (14) comprises a through hole (22) that is coupled with said second fastening element (19) and said first fastening element (18) passes through said through hole (22) coupled with said second fastening element (19).

4. The helmet (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first fastening element (18) comprises a flange (21) suitable for pressing said chin guard half (14) towards said housing (11) when the helmet (10) is in the fixed configuration.

5. The helmet (10) in accordance with any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said manually driven part (17) comprises a gripping tab (23) movable manually from a position substantially parallel to said flange (21) to a position substantially perpendicular to said flange (21).

6. The hull (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said manual drive part (17) is arranged in the vicinity of said flange (21).

7. The helmet (10) in accordance with any of the preceding claims and wherein said chin guard (14) extends from a free end (14a) to a fixing end (14b), characterized in that said housing (11) comprises a fixing seat (15) having a shape that coincides at least partially with that of said fixing end (14b).

8. The helmet (10) according to claim 7 and wherein said second fastening element (19) is arranged in said fastening seat (15), characterized in that said fastening seat (15) comprises locking means (24) suitable for defining a coupling of the same shape between said chin guard half (14) and said shell (11).

9. The helmet (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said fixing end (14b) comprises at least one shaped protruding part (25) suitable for being inserted into a suitable recess (26) comprised in said locking means (24).

10. The helmet (10) according to any of claims 7 to 9 and wherein said shell (11) comprises two lateral extensions (13a, 13b) that laterally delimit the front opening of the helmet (10), characterized in that said joining seat (15) is arranged in one of said lateral extensions (13a, 13b) and is configured as a recess having a perimeter (P) that coincides at least partially with that of said fixing end (14b).

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