Venting System for Sports Helmets

Abstract

A venting system for a sports helmet has venting openings wherein at least some of the venting openings have covers that at least partially cover the venting openings. By tilting about an axis of rotation the covers partially or completely release the venting openings. Upon actuation of the cover, one end of the cover is lifted above the surrounding helmet surface while the other end of the cover is lowered below the level of the surrounding helmet surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention concerns a venting system for a sports helmet, in particular for skiers, that is characterized by a simple inexpensive configuration, easy operability and the individual adjustment of the air stream by the wearer.[0002]In recent years, the awareness with respect to the danger that an athlete exposes himself to when practicing his sports has increased significantly. Especially those types of sports that have a distinct high-speed component, for example, motor sports, downhill skiing, bicycling, have an increased risk of injury. The athletes attempt to meet these concerns by suitable safety measures, in particular suitable sports clothing. An important component of such clothing is a resistant head protection, for example, in the form of a helmet. Since practicing sports causes increased physical stress, increased perspiration and, caused thereby, increased venting needs must be taken into consideration. In particular in case of helmets t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Upon actuation of the cover one end of the cover is lifted above the surrounding helmet surface while the other end of the cover remains below the level of the surrounding helmet surface. The lifted end of the cover may have in this connection at its bottom side venting passages or venting ribs. These ribs improve at the same time the stability of the end of the cover. The helmet part that is exposed upon tilting of the cover may also have arranged thereat venting passages or venting ribs. The two venting openings that are arranged on the helmet surface are thus advantageously opened by only one actuation of the cover.

[0012]The venting openings can be formed at any location of the helmet. An arrangement of the openings symmetrical to the connecting line forehead area—neck area is possible and provides manufacturing-technological advantages as a result of the simple configuration of the original molding tool.

[0017]An elastic snap-on system for the cover provides, for example, to introduce the axle into positive-locking bearings wherein the bearings are comprised of elastic material and have an opening with a somewhat smaller diameter than the thickness of the axle so that the axle with minimal force expenditure can be unsnapped by the wearer.

[0019]A further elastic snap-on system for the covers provides that the axle bushings are embodied in elastic shaped parts of the helmet material so that a brief deformation enables introduction or removal of the covers.

[0022]A preferred embodiment provides that the venting openings and the corresponding covers are formed within frames. The frames can be integrated into the helmet or can be separate so as to be removable from and insertable into the helmet. In this way, it is possible to exchange the entire venting opening with frame and cover in order to thus insert embodiments that are matched to the requirements or to realize fashion-based or aesthetic adaptations of the helmet shell. Also, insertion of functional elements, such as lighting means or forced venting means, into the frame is possible.

Problems solved by technology

Especially those types of sports that have a distinct high-speed component, for example, motor sports, downhill skiing, bicycling, have an increased risk of injury.

In particular in case of helmets the need for venting can be combined only with difficulty with the safety requirements that require an encapsulation of the head to be protected as complete as possible.

Such a construction is however complex with respect to manufacture and a control of the supplied air stream is hardly possible.

The main disadvantage in this connection is that the venting openings cannot be adjusted one by one and individually because upon displacement of the outer shell simultaneously all openings are opened or closed to the same degree.

Moreover, the openings are arranged perpendicularly to the flow direction of the oncoming head wind which makes it difficult, or prevents as a result of turbulence at higher speeds, that fresh air can flow into the openings, at least at the sides as well as the top side and rear side of a helmet.

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