A foldable helmet

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of foldable helmet, comprising: honeycomb matrix, made of flexible material, can be converted between folding and unfolding state, form hemispherical shell when unfolding, and have air hole through its thickness;Two reinforcing plates, respectively fixed on the opposite two side edges of honeycomb matrix;Multiple long strip-shaped air bags, along the circumferential direction of honeycomb matrix interval distribution, both ends of each air bag are airtight with two reinforcing plates respectively, can be folded with honeycomb matrix in non-inflated state;Inflating device, communicate with air bag chamber to inflate.Gas inflation, air bag inflation changes along the length direction, reinforcing plate is applied to honeycomb matrix by facing away force, drive it to automatically unfold.The helmet relies on air bag inflation to realize automatic unfolding, manual operation is saved;Air bag interval arrangement, most of air hole keep unobstructed, solve the traditional inflatable helmet stuffy problem;The arc length of air bag after inflation constitutes the mechanical limit of unfolding angle, need not additional limit binding, structure is more simple.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of helmet technology, and more specifically to a foldable helmet. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of personal head protection, especially in scenarios such as cycling, electric bicycle travel, and daily fall prevention for the elderly, the portability of helmets is just as important as their protective performance. Traditional hard-shell helmets are usually made of ABS / PC shells and EPS foam linings. They are bulky, heavy, and cannot be folded, making them inconvenient for users to store and carry when not wearing them. This leads many users to be reluctant to wear helmets when needed.

[0003] To improve portability, foldable helmet solutions have been proposed in the art. One type of solution uses a flexible material to form a honeycomb matrix (e.g., the bicycle helmet disclosed in CN207285346U). This honeycomb matrix can switch between an unfolded state in which its cells are arranged radially along the user's head and a folded state in which the cells are roughly parallel to each other. When folded, the volume is significantly reduced, and the pores of the honeycomb cells provide the helmet with natural breathability.

[0004] like Figure 2 As shown, these existing folding helmets typically also include a restraining strap 7. This restraining strap 7 extends along the outer surface of the helmet, with its ends fixed to the sides or front and rear of the honeycomb substrate. Its function is to limit the helmet's unfolding angle when the honeycomb substrate is manually pulled open from its folded state, ensuring that the helmet unfolds into a hemispherical shape of approximately 180 degrees. This prevents the honeycomb structure from being overstretched or even damaged due to excessive pulling force from the user. While the restraining strap 7 solves the problem of over-expansion, it is essentially an additional passive restraint component, increasing the number of helmet parts and assembly steps. Furthermore, the restraining strap 7 also needs to be gathered, folded, or coiled when the helmet is folded, further increasing the structural complexity.

[0005] However, the unfolding of these helmets relies entirely on manual operation by the user. The user must first place the folded helmet roughly on their head, then grasp the chin straps on both sides with both hands, pulling outwards and downwards. The tension transmitted through the straps gradually expands the honeycomb matrix into a hemispherical shape, before finally fastening the chin strap. This process requires a certain amount of strength and skill, and is not easy for users with weak hand strength or unfamiliarity with the operation. More importantly, the cumbersome manual unfolding creates an invisible psychological barrier in actual use—users know that wearing a helmet is safer, but having to go through multiple steps of taking it out, unfolding, adjusting, and fastening it before each use can easily lead to a "too much trouble, not enough for a short ride" mentality, thus subjectively reducing the willingness to wear it. This problem of unwillingness to wear due to cumbersome operation is particularly prominent in high-frequency short-distance scenarios such as shared bicycles and daily commutes. Therefore, while existing foldable helmets achieve physical portability, they still suffer from a gap in user experience—portable but not convenient to use—failing to truly solve the fundamental problem of low wearing rates.

[0006] Another option is the inflatable helmet. It uses a large-area airtight membrane forming an airbag as its main structure, which is inflated by a high-pressure gas cylinder to form a protective shell. However, the large-area airtight membrane essentially seals off the helmet's surface, resulting in extremely poor breathability. Users experience stuffiness and discomfort when wearing it, significantly reducing their willingness to use it. Furthermore, the large-area airtight membrane is prone to tearing or water hammer effects under localized impacts, leading to overall airbag failure and low impact resistance. In addition, the sudden noise from the high-pressure gas cylinder releasing gas can also be bothersome for some users.

[0007] In summary, the existing technology has not yet provided a foldable helmet that simultaneously meets the following three requirements: achieving an extremely high compression ratio for easy carrying, being able to automatically and quickly unfold into a wearing state when needed, and possessing good impact resistance and breathability after unfolding. This constitutes the fundamental technical problem that this invention aims to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a foldable helmet, which aims to solve one or more problems existing in the prior art.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a foldable helmet, comprising: a honeycomb substrate made of flexible material, capable of switching between a folded state and an unfolded state, forming a hemispherical shell suitable for wearing in the unfolded state; the honeycomb substrate having multiple ventilation holes penetrating its thickness; two reinforcing plates, respectively fixed to opposite sides of the honeycomb substrate; multiple elongated airbags, spaced apart circumferentially along the honeycomb substrate, each airbag having a first end and a second end, the first end being airtightly connected to one reinforcing plate, and the second end being airtightly connected to another reinforcing plate; in the non-inflated state, the airbag can fold together with the honeycomb substrate; an inflation device communicating with the chamber of the airbag for inflating the airbag; wherein, during inflation, the airbag expands and deforms along its length, thereby applying a back-force through the two reinforcing plates to opposite sides of the honeycomb substrate, driving the honeycomb substrate to unfold from the folded state to the unfolded state.

[0010] Furthermore, the two reinforcing plates are semi-circular rings, which meet each other in the unfolded state to form a complete ring, constituting the bottom perimeter of the helmet.

[0011] Furthermore, in the inflated state, the plurality of airbags are attached to the outer surface of the honeycomb substrate in a semi-circular arc shape, and gaps are left between adjacent airbags, with the air vents of the honeycomb substrate being exposed at least partially through the gaps.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a connecting airbag, which is disposed on at least one of the reinforcing plates. The connecting airbag has an air inlet and multiple air outlets. The air inlet is connected to the inflation device, and the multiple air outlets are respectively connected to the chambers of each of the airbags for distributing pressurized gas evenly to the multiple airbags.

[0013] Furthermore, the honeycomb substrate is formed by connecting multiple polymer films through discrete spot welding, with multiple independent honeycomb units formed between adjacent films, and the vent holes are formed on the walls of the honeycomb units.

[0014] Furthermore, the inflation device includes a replaceable compressed gas cylinder, a valve connected to the gas cylinder, and a triggering mechanism for triggering the valve to open.

[0015] Furthermore, in the folded state, the volume of the helmet is no more than 20% of its volume in the unfolded state.

[0016] Furthermore, the number of the plurality of airbags is 5 to 8.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes helmet straps, the two ends of which are connected to the two reinforcing plates respectively, for securing the helmet to the user's head.

[0018] A method for unfolding a foldable helmet, the foldable helmet comprising a honeycomb base, two reinforcing plates, and multiple elongated airbags, wherein the two reinforcing plates are respectively fixed to opposite sides of the honeycomb base, and both ends of each airbag are respectively connected to the two reinforcing plates, the method comprising: The inflation device is activated to inflate the multiple airbags, causing each airbag to expand from a flat state to a semi-circular shape, resulting in deformation along the length of the airbag. The two reinforcing plates apply a back-off force to the opposite sides of the honeycomb substrate, driving the honeycomb substrate to unfold from a folded state to a hemispherical unfolded state.

[0019] The foldable helmet described in this invention offers the following advantages: It utilizes the inflated airbags to generate a counterforce, which, via a reinforcing plate, drives the honeycomb matrix to automatically unfold, eliminating the need for manual operation and significantly improving ease of wear. Multiple elongated airbags are spaced circumferentially, and after inflation, they adhere to the outer surface of the honeycomb matrix in a semi-circular shape. This not only drives the unfolding process but also forms an elastic buffer layer. Furthermore, ventilation gaps are maintained between adjacent airbags, ensuring that most of the ventilation holes in the honeycomb matrix remain open, allowing for free airflow and solving the problem of stuffiness and poor ventilation in traditional inflatable helmets. Simultaneously, the arc length of the inflated airbags themselves provides a mechanical limit to the unfolding angle, eliminating the need for additional restraint straps and resulting in a simpler structure. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an existing folding helmet in its folded state; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded state of an existing folding helmet; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded state of the folding helmet according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the upward viewing angle of the folding helmet according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of the folding helmet according to an embodiment of the present invention; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Reinforcing plate; 2. Honeycomb frame; 21. Honeycomb unit; 3. Helmet strap; 4. Adapter; 41. Air cylinder; 42. Button; 5. Long strip airbag; 6. Connecting airbag; 7. Limiting strap. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Typical embodiments embodying the features and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description. It should be understood that the present invention can have various variations in different embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the descriptions and illustrations herein are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the present invention.

[0022] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0023] To further illustrate the principles and structure of this invention, the appendix is ​​now provided. Figure 1-5 The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0024] This foldable helmet employs a composite system of a honeycomb frame combined with an external airbag array. Its fundamental design intent is to achieve a high compression ratio when folded for easy daily carrying; and to automatically unfold the frame and form a buffer layer through a single inflation action when protection is needed, allowing the helmet to quickly become wearable. The following will describe its specific structure and implementation layer by layer, following the spatial and manufacturing logic from the core frame to the external drive components and then to the auxiliary systems.

[0025] The helmet's basic load-bearing structure is a three-dimensional honeycomb matrix made of multiple layers of flexible films. When manufacturing this matrix, PET or TPU films with a thickness between 0.15 mm and 0.2 mm are selected, preferably transparent TPU films with a thickness of 0.18 mm, to achieve sufficient flexibility and fatigue life. Approximately 50 such films are stacked layer by layer, and discrete spot welding is performed between adjacent layers, with a recommended spacing of about 10 mm between the weld points. After welding, the film stack is stretched along its thickness direction to form multiple independent honeycomb units 21 between the layers. These honeycomb units 21 extend radially along the helmet, with their ends remaining open and not forming closed cavities. The walls of the honeycomb units 21 have numerous natural pores, allowing air to flow freely in the thickness direction of the helmet, which is the fundamental source of the helmet's breathability. Due to the geometric characteristics of the honeycomb units 21, the matrix can absorb energy through wall buckling and progressive collapse when subjected to compressive forces along the unit wall direction, while exhibiting high flexibility in the direction perpendicular to the wall, allowing it to fold and collapse in a roughly horizontal direction.

[0026] At each of the two opposite side edges of the honeycomb substrate—specifically, along the two edge lines corresponding to the left and right ears of the human body when the helmet is unfolded—a semi-circular reinforcing plate 1 is fixed by hot pressing or high-strength adhesive. The reinforcing plate 1 is made of PET, TPU, or nylon, preferably a rigid TPU sheet of the same material as the honeycomb film, with a thickness between 1 mm and 1.5 mm to ensure sufficient local rigidity while allowing for good welding to the honeycomb edges. Figure 1 As shown, similar to existing folding helmets, when the helmet of this embodiment is folded, the two semi-circular reinforcing plates 1 move closer to each other as the honeycomb structure is stacked; when the helmet is fully unfolded, the two semi-circular rings are joined together to form a complete bottom ring, the curvature of which perfectly matches the bottom contour of the helmet, forming a stable boundary at the bottom edge of the helmet.

[0027] The reinforcing plate 1 serves multiple purposes: First, it provides continuous rigid support for the edges of the honeycomb substrate, preventing edge collapse; second, its surface can be used to install components such as long strip airbags, air cylinders 41, and helmet straps 3; third, the complete closure of the reinforcing plate 1 helps to lock the overall circumferential dimensions of the helmet in the unfolded state, improving the dimensional stability of the helmet when worn.

[0028] The helmet's inflation drive and external cushioning functions are provided by an array of elongated airbags 5. This airbag array consists of several independent elongated airbags 5, the number of which is selected between 5 and 8 depending on the helmet size and protection level requirements. In this embodiment, the number of elongated airbags 5 is 5 to achieve a balance between uniform driving force and breathability. Each elongated airbag 5 is made of a highly airtight and highly elastic flexible film, preferably made of TPU or nylon composite TPU, with a wall thickness between 0.15 mm and 0.25 mm. The two ends of the elongated airbag 5 are respectively connected and fixed to the reinforcing plate 1.

[0029] When the airbag is in its uninflated, natural state, its cross-section is a flat, ribbon-like shape, allowing it to automatically curl and bend without resistance as the honeycomb skeleton 2 folds, fitting into the gaps between the honeycomb layers. When high-pressure gas enters the airbag, it rapidly expands from its flat shape into a semi-circular tube with an approximately circular cross-section, its curvature matching the outer contour of the helmet when unfolded. Since both ends of each airbag are fixed to two reinforcing plates 1, the expansion and curvature of the airbag along its length directly pulls the two reinforcing plates 1 away from each other. This tension is evenly transmitted through the reinforcing plates 1 to the two edges of the honeycomb matrix, forcing the honeycomb structure to unfold from its folded C-shape into a complete hemisphere.

[0030] It should be particularly noted here that the design of the elongated airbag 5 in this invention cleverly combines multiple functions. For example... Figure 1 Existing folding helmets require one or more dedicated restraint straps 7, with both ends fixed to the honeycomb substrate. The physical length of the restraint straps 7 constrains the maximum unfolding angle of the helmet, preventing the honeycomb structure from being overstretched and damaged. In this invention, multiple elongated airbags 5, after inflation, form semi-circular arc tubes with a preset curvature. The actual arc length of each airbag is precisely determined during manufacturing, corresponding to the surface distance between the two reinforcing plates 1 when the helmet unfolds to a 180-degree hemispherical shape. When the airbags are fully inflated, their rigidity in the length direction increases significantly, preventing the helmet from failing to unfold properly due to insufficient tension, nor from unfolding beyond the predetermined angle due to excessive stretching. In other words, the inherent arc length of the elongated airbags 5 in the inflated state provides accurate mechanical restraint for the helmet's unfolding range, fundamentally replacing the independent restraint straps 7 in the prior art. Therefore, this solution eliminates the separate component of the limiting strap 7, simplifies the overall structure, reduces assembly steps, and also eliminates the inconvenience of the limiting strap 7 needing to be additionally gathered, folded, or coiled when folded and stored.

[0031] At the same time, the inflated airbags adhere tightly to the outer surface of the honeycomb substrate, forming a continuous elastic cushioning layer. However, the gaps between the airbags and most of the walls of the honeycomb unit 21 are still directly exposed to the outside air. Therefore, the fan-shaped air channels are preserved, allowing the wearer's head to continuously receive fresh air, fundamentally avoiding the stuffy feeling of traditional inflatable helmets.

[0032] To ensure that multiple airbags inflate and expand synchronously, a connecting airbag 6 is integrated into at least one of the reinforcing plates 1, as shown in Figure*. Connecting airbags 6 are also provided on both sides of the reinforcing plates 1. This connecting airbag 6 is essentially a flat gas distribution chamber with an air inlet that connects to the inflation device via a pipe. The connecting airbag 6 is also made of TPU film, with a wall thickness slightly greater than that of the elongated airbags 5 to maintain shape stability. When high-pressure gas is released from the inflation device, it first rushes into the connecting airbag 6, which rapidly expands and simultaneously forces gas from each outlet into each elongated airbag 5. This significantly reduces the inflation time difference caused by the difference in air path length between the airbags, ensuring that the entire helmet expands evenly and smoothly.

[0033] The core of the inflation device is a miniature compressed carbon dioxide cylinder 41, the capacity of which is selected according to the total internal volume of the helmet and the required inflation pressure, such as using a standard 12-gram or 16-gram bicycle cylinder 41. The cylinder 41 connects to the air inlet of the airbag 6 via an adapter 4. The adapter 4 integrates a valve mechanism consisting of a spring and a firing pin, which can be triggered by an exposed pull ring or button 42. The cylinder 41 is fixed to the rear of one of the reinforcing plates 1, positioning it at the lower rear of the helmet without interfering with wear. The triggering mechanism is designed for reliability and ease of operation; the user only needs to press the button 42 with one hand to open the valve, and the entire helmet will inflate and unfold within seconds.

[0034] To securely fasten the unfolded helmet to the user's head, helmet straps 3 are provided on the front and rear sides of the two reinforcing plates 1. The helmet straps 3 are made of nylon webbing or TPU elastic strips with a width of 15 mm to 25 mm. The helmet straps 3 can also be existing straps with D-ring buckles, allowing for adjustable tightness. Because the tension at both ends of the helmet straps 3 acts on the two reinforcing plates 1, the tension of the straps can also resist, to some extent, any slight tendency for the two semi-circular reinforcing plates 1 to separate, further stabilizing the unfolded shape of the helmet.

[0035] In practical use, the helmet is initially stored folded in a dedicated storage bag or flat box. At this point, its overall volume is only about 10% of its unfolded state, and it weighs about 200 grams, making it easy to fit into a backpack, handbag, or even a small shoulder bag. Due to its extremely low carrying cost, users can carry it like a folding umbrella as an everyday essential without feeling burdened. When the user is about to start riding or anticipates engaging in activities requiring head protection, they simply take out the folded helmet, place it roughly on their head, and then activate the inflation device with one hand. High-pressure gas flows from the gas cylinder 41, is evenly distributed to each of the elongated airbags 5 via the connecting airbag 6, and the airbags rapidly expand in a semi-circular arc direction, pulling the reinforcing plate 1. This causes the honeycomb matrix to automatically unfold from the side-folded C-shaped structure into a complete hemisphere within seconds. The two semi-circular reinforcing plates 1 automatically close to form the bottom ring. Then, the user only needs to fasten the strap at the chin and make slight adjustments. The entire wearing process can be completed in a few seconds, making it easy and natural and greatly reducing psychological resistance from those who are afraid of trouble.

[0036] When unfolded, the elastic outer cover formed by the elongated airbag 5 and the radial unit walls of the honeycomb skeleton 2 together form a two-stage energy absorption system: when the helmet is subjected to external impact, the airbag at the impact point first attenuates part of the energy through its own compression and the buffering effect of the gas inside the airbag, and disperses the impact force to a larger area. Subsequently, the remaining impact force is further absorbed by the buckling and collapse of the honeycomb unit 21 walls, effectively reducing the acceleration transmitted to the user's head. At the same time, because there are obvious longitudinal gaps between the airbags and a large number of pores on the surface of the honeycomb unit 21 walls are not blocked, the airflow above the user's head can freely escape from the inside of the helmet through the honeycomb holes and the gaps between the airbags to the outside, keeping the user dry and comfortable. After use, if storage is required, simply press the deflation valve connected to the airbag 6 or the air line to release the gas. The airbag will return to its flat shape, and the honeycomb structure can be gently pushed by hand to retract into a C-shape along the original fold lines and put back into the storage bag. The entire process requires no tools and does not damage any components other than the gas cylinder 41.

[0037] In alternative implementations, the inflation source can also be changed according to the needs of the scenario: in scenarios where reusability is required and there are no consumables, the disposable carbon dioxide cylinder 41 can be replaced with a combination of a miniature electric air pump and a rechargeable battery. The air pump is connected to the connecting air bag 6 via an adapter 4 and inflation is completed within seconds; or a disposable gas generator based on chemical reaction can be used to reduce the dependence on pressure while ensuring the same rapid inflation.

[0038] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not constitute any limitation on the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, any minor modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foldable helmet, characterized in that, include: The honeycomb matrix, made of a flexible material, can switch between a folded state and an unfolded state, forming a hemispherical shell suitable for wearing in the unfolded state. The honeycomb matrix has multiple vents that penetrate its thickness. Two reinforcing plates are fixed to the opposite two sides of the honeycomb substrate, respectively. Multiple elongated airbags are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the honeycomb matrix. Each airbag has a first end and a second end. The first end is airtightly connected to a reinforcing plate, and the second end is airtightly connected to another reinforcing plate. In the non-inflated state, the airbag can be folded together with the honeycomb matrix. An inflation device, connected to the chamber of the airbag, is used to inflate the airbag; During inflation, the airbag expands and deforms along its length, thereby applying a back-off force to the opposite edges of the honeycomb substrate through the two reinforcing plates, driving the honeycomb substrate to unfold from the folded state to the unfolded state.

2. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two reinforcing plates are semi-circular rings, which meet each other in the unfolded state to form a complete ring, constituting the bottom perimeter of the helmet.

3. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the inflated state, the plurality of air bladders are attached to the outer surface of the honeycomb substrate in a semi-circular arc shape, with gaps between adjacent air bladders, and the air vents of the honeycomb substrate are at least partially exposed through the gaps.

4. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a connecting airbag, which is disposed on at least one of the reinforcing plates. The connecting airbag has an air inlet and multiple air outlets. The air inlet is connected to the inflation device, and the multiple air outlets are respectively connected to the chambers of each of the airbags for distributing pressurized gas evenly to the multiple airbags.

5. The foldable helmet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The honeycomb substrate is formed by connecting multiple polymer films through discrete spot welding, and multiple independent honeycomb units are formed between adjacent films. The vent holes are formed on the walls of the honeycomb units.

6. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inflation device includes a replaceable compressed gas cylinder, a valve connected to the gas cylinder, and a triggering mechanism for triggering the valve to open.

7. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the folded state, the volume of the helmet is no more than 20% of its volume in the unfolded state.

8. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the multiple airbags is 5 to 8.

9. The foldable helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes helmet straps, the two ends of which are connected to the two reinforcing plates to secure the helmet to the user's head.

10. A method for unfolding a foldable helmet, characterized in that, The foldable helmet includes a honeycomb base, two reinforcing plates, and multiple elongated airbags. The two reinforcing plates are respectively fixed to opposite sides of the honeycomb base, and both ends of each airbag are connected to the two reinforcing plates. The method includes: The inflation device is activated to inflate the multiple airbags, causing each airbag to expand from a flat state to a semi-circular shape, resulting in deformation along the length of the airbag. The two reinforcing plates apply a back-off force to the opposite sides of the honeycomb substrate, driving the honeycomb substrate to unfold from a folded state to a hemispherical unfolded state.

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