Helmet with evaporative cooler

Abstract

The invention relates to a helmet (10), in particular a bicycle helmet, with several ventilation openings (16) and at least one evaporative cooler (18) which is arranged in a ventilation opening (16).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a helmet, in particular a bicycle helmet, with several ventilation openings.

[0002] This type of helmet is generally known. The ventilation openings serve to direct air, especially in the form of wind, to the head of the helmet wearer, thus providing some cooling of the head.

[0003] German patent DE 196 15 049 A1 discloses a protective helmet in which an impact-resistant helmet shell is formed section by section from an air-permeable material. The air-permeable sections consist of a wire mesh and / or a perforated sheet steel. Document DE 196 15 049 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The object of the invention is to further improve the wearing comfort of a helmet of the type mentioned above in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0005] The problem is solved by a helmet having the features of claim 1 and in particular by the fact that at least one evaporative cooler is arranged in a ventilation opening.

[0006] The invention is based on the general idea of ​​not limiting the helmet's cooling function to mere air circulation through the ventilation openings, but also supporting it with a specially designed evaporative cooler, which operates purely passively according to the principle of cooling through drying and evaporation. In this way, the cooling of the helmet wearer's head is significantly enhanced, and the overall wearing comfort of the helmet is increased.

[0007] Activating the evaporative cooler, or more precisely, charging it with cooling fluid, can be easily accomplished in practice by the helmet wearer wetting the cooler with cooling fluid, for example, by pouring or splashing drinking water from a cup or bottle onto it. Conversely, to deactivate the evaporative cooler, for example, while descending a hill, the helmet wearer simply needs to tilt their head and position the cooler in the airflow so that any cooling fluid collected inside is actively forced out.

[0008] According to the invention, the evaporative cooler comprises a rigid grid structure. The grid structure can have a thickness in the range of several millimeters, in particular 1 to 2 mm.

[0009] According to the invention, the grid structure defines a plurality of evaporation openings, which are dimensioned such that they can be covered by a film of cooling fluid, in particular a film of drinking water. In this way, not only can the evaporation openings of the evaporation cooler be utilized by cooling fluid, but the evaporation openings can also be covered by a cooling fluid film, allowing the evaporation cooler to hold more cooling fluid overall and ultimately cool even more effectively. Furthermore, the grid structure fulfills a dual function in that it can not only store cooling fluid but also contribute to optimal airflow through the helmet.

[0010] According to the invention, the evaporation openings are elongated. This elongated shape of the evaporation openings promotes the surface tension effect and thus facilitates the formation of a cooling fluid film across the openings. The longitudinal orientation of the evaporation openings is aligned with the longitudinal orientation of the helmet so that the airflow optimally engages the evaporative cooler, thereby allowing the cooling fluid collected in the cooler to dry and evaporate optimally.

[0011] Basically, a grid structure with gaps is conceivable, which extend longitudinally along the entire length of the grid structure of the helmet.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the drawing.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the evaporative cooler is arranged in a ventilation opening located in the rear of the helmet, or at least in a section of a ventilation opening located in the rear of the helmet. In this way, the evaporative cooler does not obstruct the flow of cooling air into the front of the helmet, which is normally directly exposed to the wind, but rather enhances the cooling in the rear of the helmet, which is conventionally cooled only moderately. Furthermore, arranging the evaporative cooler in the rear of the helmet has the advantage that the cooling fluid does not run into the wearer's eyes when they pour or splash it. It is understood, however, that an evaporative cooler can also, in principle, extend far into the front of the helmet or be located entirely within the front of the helmet.

[0014] Even better cooling is achieved if several ventilation openings are each equipped with an evaporative cooler.

[0015] Preferably, the evaporative cooler has a plurality of evaporation openings, which are bounded by struts of the evaporative cooler. In this way, the surface area available for drying and evaporating the cooling fluid is maximized, and consequently the cooling effect of the evaporative cooler is optimized.

[0016] Preferably, the evaporation openings have a hexagonal shape. The resulting honeycomb-like grid structure is characterized by a particularly successful compromise between stability and an optimal spatial arrangement of the evaporation openings. However, other angular shapes for the evaporation openings are also possible in principle. Even round, for example elliptical, evaporation openings, arranged especially in an orthogonal or cross grid, are conceivable.

[0017] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the evaporation openings have a maximum width of 1.5 mm, preferably 1.3 mm and particularly preferably 1.2 mm, since the surface tension of drinking water is normally sufficient to form water films spanning such wide evaporation openings.

[0018] The length of the evaporation openings is chosen to be longer than the width and can, for example, be in the range of several millimeters, in particular in the range of 2 to 10 mm and preferably in the range of 3 to 6 mm.

[0019] According to an unclaimed embodiment, the evaporative cooler comprises a sponge element, in particular an element made of an open-cell foam material, and / or an element made of a three-dimensional textile fabric. Such an evaporative cooler is also well suited for holding a cooling fluid intended for cooling by drying and evaporation, such as drinking water. It is understood that the evaporative cooler can also, in principle, comprise a combination of a grid structure, a sponge element, and / or a textile fabric.

[0020] The invention is described below by way of example only, using one possible embodiment as a guide with reference to the accompanying drawing. Fig. 1 shows a top view of a helmet according to the invention.

[0021] At the in Fig. 1 The helmet 10 shown is a bicycle helmet which has a front section 12 and a rear section 14. In this context, the terms "front" and "rear" refer to the perspective of a wearer of the helmet 10; that is, the front section 12 of the helmet 10, which is sitting on the wearer's head, points in the direction of the wearer's gaze, while the rear section 14 covers the back of the wearer's head.

[0022] The helmet 10 forms several ventilation openings 16. Three of these ventilation openings 16 have an elongated shape oriented longitudinally along the helmet 10 and extend predominantly in the rear region 14 of the helmet 10. An evaporative cooler 18 is inserted into each of these three ventilation openings 16, which, according to the invention, is formed by a rigid grid structure 20. Each grid structure 20 has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mm and defines a plurality of evaporative openings 22, which are bounded by webs 24 of the grid structure 20. The evaporative openings 22 each have a hexagonal cross-section. The length of each evaporative opening 22, viewed longitudinally along the helmet 10, is approximately 4 mm, while the maximum width is approximately 1.3 mm.

[0023] With this dimensioning of the evaporation openings 22, a film of water wetting the grid structure 20 can, due to its surface tension, also span the evaporation openings 22 if the grid structure 20 is doused or splashed with water, for example from a drinking bottle, during riding, for example by the helmet wearer. As a result of the drying and evaporation of the water, which is also promoted by the airflow, additional cooling is achieved in the rear area 14 of the helmet 10, which significantly increases the wearing comfort of the helmet 10. Reference symbol list

[0024] 10 Helmet 12 Front area 14 Rear area 16 Ventilation opening 18 Evaporative cooler 20 Grid structure 22 Evaporation opening 24 Bridge

Claims

1. A helmet (10), in particular a bicycle helmet, having a plurality of ventilation openings (16), wherein at least one evaporation cooler (18) is arranged in a ventilation opening (16), wherein the evaporation cooler (18) comprises a bend-proof lattice structure (20) and the lattice structure (20) defines a plurality of evaporation openings (22) which are bounded by webs (24) of the evaporation cooler (18), characterized in that the plurality of evaporation openings (22) are of an elongate character, with a longitudinal orientation of the evaporation openings (22) being aligned with a longitudinal orientation of the helmet (10), and with the plurality of evaporation openings (22) being dimensioned such that they can be spanned by a film of a cooling fluid.

2. A helmet (10) in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the evaporation cooler (18) is arranged in a ventilation opening (16), which is in a rear region of the helmet (10), or is at least arranged in a section of a ventilation opening (16) that is in a rear region of the helmet (10).

3. A helmet (10) in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of ventilation openings (16) are each provided with a ventilation cooler (18).

4. A helmet (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plurality of evaporation openings (22) can be spanned by a film of drinking water.

5. A helmet (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporation openings (22) each have a hexagonal design.

6. A helmet (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporation openings (22) have a maximum width of 1.5 mm, preferably of 1.3 mm, and particularly preferably of 1.2 mm.

7. A helmet (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporation openings (22) have a length of a plurality of millimeters, in particular in the range from 2 to 10 mm, and preferably in the range from 3 to 6 mm.

8. A helmet (10) in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporation cooler (18) comprises a sponge element, in particular an element composed of an open pore foam material, and / or comprises an element composed of a three-dimensional textile fabric.

Images