Helmet and method of manufacture

Abstract

A helmet comprises a shell (2) and a neckband (3) with a body (3a). Right and left attachment points (4, 5) attach the neckband (3) to the sides of the shell (2). The body (3a) is movably mounted between a usage position, where it protrudes from the shell (2), and a storage position, where it is retracted into the cavity. In the storage position, the inner face of the body (3a) faces the rear inner face of the shell (2). The body (3a) is curved and moves between positions by elastically rotating. The body (3a) is connected to the attachment points (4, 5) by a flexible link formed by a soft textile element or a strip of elastomeric material. This flexible link is elastically deformable in three dimensions.

Description

technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a helmet and its manufacturing process. Previous technique

[0002] US patent 2015 / 0327617 describes a helmet for working at heights or mountaineering equipped with a pivoting neck strap. The neck strap has a curved body attached to the helmet shell by two slightly offset hinges. The neck strap body is elastically deformable, allowing it to switch between the stowed and active positions. In the active position, the inner surface of the body is designed to contact the occipital part of the user's head. In the stowed position, the inner surface is directly opposite the inner wall of the helmet shell.

[0003] US document 2021 / 0321708 discloses a substantially similar helmet configuration which also includes a head circumference adjustment device to improve the helmet's fit to the user's morphological characteristics for a fixed shell size.

[0004] These designs are advantageous because they reduce the helmet's bulk during storage. In particular, it's easier to stack the helmets on top of each other. This improves the integrity of the neck roll during repeated handling when the helmet is in the stored position. However, in practice, the neck roll doesn't offer the same level of comfort and adjustment precision as helmets where the neck roll is attached to the shell by three separate connections: two lateral connections and one rear connection.

[0005] The use of a three-link system prevents the neck brace from tipping between the storage position and the use position. Object of the invention

[0006] One object of the invention is to provide a helmet which improves the comfort of a swiveling neckband without degrading its ability to reduce its bulk in the storage position.

[0007] This problem is being addressed by using a helmet designed for working at heights and mountaineering, which includes: a skullcap defining a cavity intended to receive a user's head; a neckband having a body defining an inner wall intended to come into contact with the occipital area of ​​the user's head; a right attachment point attaching the neckband to a right lateral part of the skullcap and a left attachment point attaching the neckband to a left lateral part of the skullcap; a rear attachment point attaching the neckband to a rear part of the skullcap; in which the body is mounted movably between a first position where the body protrudes from the cap to define a position of use and a second position where the body is installed in the cavity to define a storage position, the inner face of the body being opposite the rear inner face of the cap in the storage position; in which the body is curved in shape and moves between the first position and the second position by elastically deforming and reversing the radius of curvature of the curved shape.

[0008] The helmet is remarkable in that the body is connected to the right and left attachment points by a flexible link formed by a soft textile element or a strip of elastomeric material, the flexible link being elastically deformable in three dimensions between the body and each of the right and left attachment points.

[0009] It is advantageous for the flexible connection to be formed by said flexible textile element chosen from a strap, a rope, a fabric or a braid.

[0010] Preferably, said flexible textile element or said elastomeric material strip has an elongation at break of less than 10% in a longitudinal direction.

[0011] Advantageously, said flexible textile element or said elastomeric material strip has an elongation at break greater than 50% in a longitudinal direction.

[0012] In a particular configuration, the flexible connection is formed by said flexible textile element.

[0013] Preferably, the body is made of plastic material and said flexible textile element has an elongation at break at least twice the elongation at break of the plastic material forming the body.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the body is connected to the rear attachment point by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible, elastically deformable, three-dimensional connection.

[0015] The invention also relates to a manufacturing process which makes it possible to functionalize a helmet by improving safety without making the helmet too heavy.

[0016] This result is achieved through a helmet manufacturing process comprising the following steps: to provide a skullcap defining a cavity intended to receive a user's head and a neckband having a body defining an inner wall intended to come into contact with the occipital area of ​​a user's head; to attach the neckband to the skullcap by means of a right attachment point attaching the neckband to a right lateral part of the skullcap, a left attachment point attaching the neckband to a left lateral part of the skullcap and a rear attachment point attaching the neckband to a rear part of the skullcap, in which the body is mounted movable between a first position where the body protrudes from the skullcap to define a position of use and a second position where the body is installed in the cavity to define a storage position, the inner face of the body being opposite the rear inner face of the skullcap in the storage position.The neckband has a curved body. The neckband moves between the first and second positions by elastically deforming and reversing the radius of curvature of the curved shape.

[0017] The process is remarkable in that the body is connected to the right and left attachment points by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible, elastically deformable, three-dimensional connection between the body and each of the right and left attachment points. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Other advantages and features will become clearer from the following description of particular embodiments and implementations of the invention, given by way of non-limiting examples and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: there figure 1schematically illustrates a perspective view of a helmet equipped with a neckband in a stowed position; the figure 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a helmet equipped with a neckband in a position of use; the figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a neckband; the figure 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a deformed neck brace to represent the position of use; the figure 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a neck brace deformed to represent its storage position; the figure 6 schematically illustrates a side view of a helmet with the neckband in the stowed position. Description of the implementation methods

[0019] THE figures 1 to 6represent different configurations of a helmet 1, preferably a helmet for mountaineering and working at height. The helmet 1 comprises a shell 2 designed to accommodate a user's head and a neck strap 3.

[0020] The shell 2 is made of a material that prevents it from folding back on itself. The shell 2 can preferably be made of plastic material, for example injected polycarbonate or ABS, or expanded polystyrene or polypropylene, or any other plastic material, in particular injected plastic, thermoformed plastic or foam.

[0021] Cap 2 defines a cap surface that represents the surface of the median plane of cap 2 along the thickness direction. The cap surface is a curved surface that is approximately a hemisphere. The cavity defined by cap 2 is intended to receive a portion of a user's head.

[0022] The helmet 1 also includes a neck strap 3 which is attached to the shell 2 by three attachment points: a right attachment point 4, a left attachment point 5, and a rear attachment point 6. The right attachment point 4 attaches the neck strap 3 to a right side of the shell 2. The left attachment point 5 attaches the neck strap 3 to a left side of the shell 2. The rear attachment point 6 attaches the neck strap 3 to a rear of the shell 2. The right and left sides represent the right and left sides of the user wearing the helmet 1. The rear of the shell 2 corresponds to the part closest to the occipital bone, while the front corresponds to the part closest to the forehead.

[0023] The neck strap 3 can be attached directly to the cap 2 or it can be attached to an intermediate element attached to the cap 2. In the embodiment example illustrated in figures 1 and 2 The neck strap 3 is attached to the right and left sides of the shell 2 by means of an adjustment system 7 configured to adjust the head circumference. Advantageously, the adjustment system 7 allows the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5 to be moved relative to the shell 2. The rear attachment point 6 is preferably fixed directly to the shell 2.

[0024] The neck support 3 has a body 3a defining an inner wall intended to come into contact with the occipital area of ​​the user's head. The body 3a is mounted movably between a first position where the body 3a protrudes from the cap 2 to define a position of use ( figure 2 ) and a second position where the body 3a is installed in the cavity of the cap 2 to define a storage position ( figure 1). In the storage position, the inner face of the body 3a is opposite the rear inner face of the cap 2. As with some prior art configurations, it is particularly advantageous to have a body 3a that can be in the form of a "C", that is to say in a curved form and which deforms in order to move from the use position to the storage position.

[0025] During its deformation, the body 3a can define a "hard point" that allows for two distinct stable positions: the storage position and the usage position. The body 3a is curved and moves between the first and second positions by deforming elastically and reversing the radius of curvature. The reversal of the radius of curvature is observed along a radius extending from the center of the curve and penetrating either the outer or inner face first, thus defining radii of curvature with opposite signs. In other words, the body defines a concave or convex surface depending on whether the reference face is the inner or outer face for the two aforementioned positions. The body 3a is a rigid element with a certain elastic stiffness. The body 3a is preferably made of a polymer material.When the body 3a is between the use position and the "hard point," the neckband 3 exerts a restoring force that moves the body 3a to the use position. When the body 3a is between the storage position and the "hard point," the neckband 3 exerts a restoring force that moves the body 3a to the storage position. A stable position is defined as a position where the neckband 3 remains in position in the absence of external forces, regardless of the orientation of the helmet 1. To move from the stable position, the user applies force to the body 3a to deform it to the "hard point." This force is directed to oppose the restoring force. Once the "hard point" is passed, the applied force and the restoring force of the body 3a are directed in the same direction to place the body in the other stable position. The "hard point" is an unstable position.

[0026] To facilitate the deformation of body 3a, without putting too much stress on the other elements of helmet 1, it is advantageous not to use hinges as was the case in the prior art configuration.

[0027] The body 3a is connected to the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5 by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible, elastically deformable, three-dimensional connection between the body 3a and each of the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5. The use of a flexible textile element or an elastomeric material allows for a zone of high deformability between the body 3a and the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5, which facilitates the deformation of the body 3a of the neck brace 3 relative to the rear attachment point 6.

[0028] This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the helmet 1 is equipped with an adjustment system 7 for adjusting the head circumference, which acts on the position of the right and left attachment points. When the right and left attachment points move, this deforms the body 3a of the neckband 3 to accommodate the spacing between the two attachment points, i.e., the distance along the right-left direction or lateral direction YY. As the neckband 3 deforms, the deformation kinematics for moving from the storage position to the usage position also change. Consequently, the forces applied to the hinges can vary significantly depending on the adjustment made to the head circumference.To avoid forming stronger hinges, i.e. larger and heavier, which is not acceptable for equipment that is worn on the head for several hours, it is advantageous to use a right flexible link 8 and a left flexible link 9.

[0029] While the hinge defines a single pivot axis, the elastomer material band and the soft textile element allow relative movements in three dimensions, which makes it possible to better accommodate the deformation of the body 3a when it passes between the storage position and the use position.

[0030] It also appears that using an elastomeric material band and a flexible textile element allows for maintaining a compact structure or even increasing its compactness. The thicknesses of the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element can be the same as or less than the thicknesses of the body 3a while still being able to withstand the applied forces. Furthermore, the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element are deformable upon contact with the user's head, thus reducing the risk of injury.

[0031] It is particularly advantageous that the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element facilitate deformation along the lateral direction YY, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the median sagittal plane. The lateral direction YY corresponds to the left-right axis, i.e., an axis extending from the right attachment point 4 to the left attachment point 5. Deformation along the lateral direction YY reduces the stress on the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5, which is particularly advantageous when the attachment points are movable by means of the adjustment system 7, as this allows for a compact adjustment system 7.

[0032] It is particularly advantageous that the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element facilitate deformation along a transverse direction ZZ illustrated in the figure 6The transverse direction ZZ refers to a vertical direction when the helmet 1 is worn, and the direction parallel to the median sagittal plane and the median coronal plane of the helmet wearer. The median coronal plane separates the front and rear parts of the shell 2. In other words, the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element can move towards or away from the plane representing the top of the shell 2 and the plane representing the bottom of the shell 2. Again, the preferential deformation of the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element reduces stress on the attachment points, which is particularly advantageous when the attachment points are linked to an adjustment system 7, as it helps maintain the compactness of the adjustment system 7. The front-to-back direction is illustrated by the axis XX.

[0033] The elastomer material band and the soft textile element at each end of the neck brace 3 are able to deform independently of each other, which allows for better management of deformation and applied forces.

[0034] A particularly advantageous feature is that the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element are capable of elastically deforming in extension along the longitudinal direction, that is, the direction connecting the two right and left attachment points via the rear attachment point 6. This extensional deformation allows for an increase in the head circumference or for the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element to be deformed to apply a reasonable constraint to the head during the adjustment phase. The extensional deformation of the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element allows for a better adaptation to the morphology of the back of the head.

[0035] Preferably, the elastomeric material strip and the flexible textile element are capable of undergoing significant deformation; for example, the flexible textile element or the elastomeric material strip has an elongation at break greater than 50% in the longitudinal direction. The high deformability of the right-hand flexible link 8 and the left-hand flexible link 9 facilitates the deformation of the body 3a.

[0036] A textile element is defined as an element that can be woven, braided, or knitted. The textile material is preferably chosen from a webbing, a fabric, a braid, or an entanglement of threads or fibers of any kind. The braid may be a flat braid and / or a tubular braid. The webbing may be a flat webbing and / or a tubular webbing. The fabric may consist of a single layer or multiple layers.

[0037] Depending on the materials used, it is possible to have a textile material that exhibits high flexibility in both the transverse and lateral directions, while allowing very little or no extension in the longitudinal direction. The textile material can be a statically indeterminate rope or webbing, meaning it has an elongation before breaking of less than 4%. It is also possible to have a dynamic webbing or rope, meaning it has an elongation of less than 15% or even less than 10%. It is advantageous to use the same materials as for climbing ropes, such as polyamide or polyester. Given the materials used, the forces involved in adjusting the neck brace 3 to the user's head result in negligible or even no deformation.In this embodiment, the adjustment to the morphology of the head is almost exclusively achieved by the adjustment system 7 and the flexibility of the textile material or the elastomer material allows for a highly deformable connection to facilitate the deformation of the body between the storage position and the position of use.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the body is made of plastic material, preferably the same materials used in the prior art to form a deformable body. The flexible textile element has an elongation at break at least twice that of the plastic material forming the body. The elongation of the flexible textile element or elastomer material allows for a better fit to the user's head by limiting the length of the textile element or elastomer material.

[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the body 3a is made of plastic material and the flexible textile element has an elongation at break at least twice that of the plastic material forming the body 3a. When the neckband 3 is subjected to stress to adapt it to the morphology of the user's head, the textile material does not deform in the longitudinal direction and the body 3a deforms to better conform to the shape of the head.

[0040] Depending on the configuration, the body 3a can be connected to the rear attachment point 6 by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible link that can be deformed in three dimensions, or it can be connected by a hinge 10 which defines a pivot axis of the body relative to the cap 2.

[0041] The use of a flexible textile element or a band of elastomeric material allows the body 3a to move relative to the shell 2 in three distinct directions. This facilitates the deformation of the body 3a between the position of use and the storage position.

[0042] These embodiments are particularly advantageous because they facilitate the deformation of body 3a between the storage position and the position of use.

[0043] In the stowed position, the body 3a is installed inside the shell 2 and is attached by means of three links, each of which includes at least two flexible links. The weight of the body 3a is low enough to prevent significant deformation or distortion of the textile element or elastomer band, which would cause the body 3a to hang out of the shell 2.

[0044] Since body 3a is more easily deformed between its storage and usage positions, it is possible to use a more encompassing body 3a, that is, a body 3a whose radius of curvature is closer to that of the shell 2 and / or a longer body 3a. The length of body 3a is measured along its circumference. For example, the neckband 3 extends over at least 30% of the circumference of the shell 2, preferably at least 40%, and even more preferably at least 50%. Since body 3a can be larger, it can extend over at least 20% of the circumference of the shell 2, preferably at least 30%, and even more preferably at least 40%.

[0045] The use of a flexible textile element or an elastomer band that allows for elongation in the longitudinal direction, and preferably an elongation greater than 50%, makes it possible to reduce the length of the flexible textile element and the elastomer band. Body 3a can extend over a greater distance, which allows for better support of the back of the head.

[0046] The length of body 3a is significantly greater than the distance between the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5. Advantageously, the length of body 3a is greater than the sum of the distance between the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5, the length of the left flexible link 9, and the length of the right flexible link 8. The greater length of body 3a allows for a stable storage position as well as a stable operating position. figure 3illustrates a neck brace 3 in a flat configuration. The figure 4 illustrates the same neckband 3 deformed to represent the storage position while the figure 5 illustrates the usage position.

[0047] In the embodiments illustrated in Figure 3, 4 And 5 The neck support 3 is a monolithic element having the body 3a extended at each end by a flexible textile element or an elastomer band and then by an attachment point. Preferably, the sum of the length of the body 3a and the flexible textile elements or elastomer bands is equal to or slightly less than the circumferential distance between the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5. For example, the sum is 5% to 10% less than the circumferential length.

[0048] Advantageously, the flexible textile element or elastomer band has a first end fixed to the body 3a and a second end fixed to a hook termination 11. The two hook terminations 11 are fixed to the cap 2 or to the adjustment system 7.

[0049] The neck strap 3 is preferably provided with an additional attachment termination which fixes the neck strap 3 to the cap 2 to form the rear attachment point 6.

[0050] The manufacturing process for helmet 1 can be described as follows. A shell 2 is provided, defining a cavity intended to receive a user's head. A neckband 3 is also provided, having a body 3a defining an inner wall intended to come into contact with the occipital area of ​​the user's head.

[0051] The neck strap 3 is attached to the cap 2 by means of a right attachment point 4 attaching the neck strap 3 to a right side part of the cap 2, a left attachment point 5 attaching the neck strap 3 to a left side part of the cap 2 and a rear attachment point 6 attaching the neck strap 3 to a rear part of the cap 2.

[0052] The body 3a is mounted to move between a first position where it protrudes from the cap 2 to define a usage position, and a second position where it is installed in the cavity to define a storage position. In the storage position, the inner face of the body 3a is aligned with the rear inner face of the cap 2. The body 3a is curved and moves between the first and second positions by elastically deforming and reversing the radius of curvature of its shape.

[0053] The body 3a is connected to the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5 by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible right link 8 or a flexible left link 9 elastically deformable in three dimensions between the body 3a and each of the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5.

[0054] In use, the body 3a is deformed to impose a curvature in one direction or the other. During the deformation of the body 3a, the body 3a applies a deformation to the flexible textile element or the elastomer band, which facilitates the deformation of the body 3a despite the three points of attachment to the cap 2.

[0055] The flexible textile element and the elastomer band allow three-dimensional deformation, which facilitates the deformation of body 3a.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustment system 7 is equipped with a dial 7a which adjusts the circumference of the head circumference and which optionally moves the lateral attachment points of the neck strap 3.

Claims

1. Helmet (1) intended for work at height and mountaineering comprising: - a shell (2) defining a cavity intended to receive a user's head; - a neck strap (3) having a body (3a) defining an inner wall intended to come into contact with the occipital area of ​​the user's head; - a right attachment point (4) attaching the neck strap (3) with a right lateral part of the shell (2) and a left attachment point (5) attaching the neck strap (3) with a left lateral part of the shell (2); - a rear attachment point (6) attaching the neck strap (3) with a rear part of the shell (2);in which the body (3a) is mounted movable between a first stable position where the body protrudes from the cap (2) to define a position of use and a second stable position where the body (3a) is installed in the cavity to define a storage position, the inner wall of the body (3a) being opposite the rear inner face of the cap (2) in the storage position;in which the body (3a) has a "hard spot" when the body (3a) moves between the first position and the second position, the neck strap (3) having a restoring force intended to move the body (3a) into the use position when the body (3a) is between the use position and the "hard spot" and to move the body (3a) into the storage position when the body (3a) is between the storage position and the "hard spot", in which the body (3a) is curved and moves between the first position and the second position by elastically deforming and reversing the radius of curvature of the curved shape; characterized in thatthe body (3a) is connected to the right attachment point (4) and to the left attachment point (5) by a flexible link formed by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material, the flexible link being elastically deformable in three dimensions between the body (3a) and each of the right attachment point (4) and the left attachment point (5).

2. Helmet (1) according to claim 1 in which said flexible textile element or said elastomeric material strip has an elongation at break of less than 10% in the longitudinal direction.

3. Helmet (1) according to claim 1 in which said flexible textile element or said elastomeric material strip has an elongation at break greater than 50% in the longitudinal direction.

4. Helmet (1) according to claim 3 in which the flexible connection is formed by said flexible textile element.

5. Helmet (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4 wherein the body (3a) is made of plastic material and said flexible textile element has an elongation at break at least twice greater than the elongation at break of the plastic material forming the body (3a).

6. Helmet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the flexible connection is formed by said flexible textile element selected from a strap, a rope, a fabric or a braid.

7. Helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body (3a) is connected to the rear attachment point (6) by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible, elastically deformable, three-dimensionally deformable connection.

8. Method for manufacturing a helmet (1) comprising the following steps: - providing a shell (2) defining a cavity intended to receive a user's head and a neck strap (3) having a body (3a) defining an inner wall intended to come into contact with the occipital area of ​​the user's head;- attaching the neckband (3) to the shell (2) by means of a right attachment point (4) attaching the neckband (3) to a right side portion of the shell (2), a left attachment point (5) attaching the neckband (3) to a left side portion of the shell (2), and a rear attachment point (6) attaching the neckband (3) to a rear portion of the shell (2), wherein the body (3a) is mounted movably between a first position where the body (3a) protrudes from the shell (2) to define a usage position and a second position where the body (3a) is installed in the cavity to define a storage position, the inner wall of the body (3a) being opposite the rear inner face of the shell (2) in the storage position, wherein the body (3a) is curved and moves between the first and second positions deforming elastically and reversing the radius of curvature of the curved shape; characterized in that the body (3a) is connected to the right attachment point (4) and the left attachment point (5) by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material to form a flexible, elastically deformable, three-dimensional connection between the body (3a) and each of the right attachment point (4) and the left attachment point (5) and in that the body (3a) has a "hard spot" when the body (3a) moves between the first position and the second position, the neck strap (3) having a restoring force intended to move the body (3a) into the use position when the body (3a) is between the use position and the "hard spot" and to move the body (3a) into the storage position when the body (3a) is between the storage position and the "hard spot".

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