HELMET AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Abstract

HELMET AND MANUFACTURING METHOD A helmet comprises a shell (2) and a neck strap (3) having a body (3a). Right and left attachment points (4, 5) attach the neck strap (3) to the lateral parts of the shell (2). The body (3a) is movably mounted between a usage position where the body (3a) protrudes from the shell (2) and a storage position where the body (3a) is installed in the cavity. The inner face of the body (3a) faces the rear inner face of the shell (2) in the storage position. The body (3a) is curved and moves between positions by elastically reversing. The body (3a) is connected to the attachment points (4, 5) by a flexible link formed by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material. The flexible link is elastically deformable in three dimensions.

Description

Title of the invention: HELMET AND MANUFACTURING METHOD 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 height or for mountaineering equipped with a pivoting neck strap. The neck strap has a curved body attached to the shell by means of two hinges slightly offset from each other. The neck strap body is elastically deformable to pivot between the stowed and operating positions. In the operating position, the inner face of the body is intended to come into contact with the occipital part of the user's head. In the stowed position, the inner face is directly opposite the inner wall of the shell.

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

[0004] These embodiments are advantageous because they reduce the helmet's bulk during storage. In particular, it is easier to stack the helmets on top of each other. This improves the integrity of the neck strap during repeated handling when it is in the stored position. However, in practice, the neck strap does not offer the same level of comfort and adjustment precision as helmets where the neck strap 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 strap from tipping between the storage position and the use position. Object of the invention

[0006] An object of the invention consists of providing a helmet which makes it possible to improve the comfort of a swiveling neckband without degrading its ability to reduce its bulk in the storage position.

[0007] This problem is addressed by means of a helmet designed for working at height and mountaineering, comprising: - a cap 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 neck strap to a right side part of the skullcap and a left attachment point attaching the neck strap to a left side part of the skullcap; - a rear attachment point attaching the neck strap 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 and moves between the first position and the second position by deforming elastically and reversing the radius of curvature of the curved shape.

[0008] The helmet is remarkable in that the body is connected to the right attachment point and the left attachment point 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 and each of the right and left attachment points.

[0009] It is advantageous that the flexible connection 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 greater than 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 to be achieved by means of a helmet manufacturing process comprising the following steps: - provide a cap 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; - The neckband is attached to the helmet shell by means of a right attachment point connecting the neckband to the right side of the shell, a left attachment point connecting the neckband to the left side of the shell, and a rear attachment point connecting the neckband to the rear of the shell. The body is mounted to move between a first position where it protrudes from the shell to define a usage position and a second position where it is recessed into the cavity to define a storage position. In the storage position, the inner face of the body is opposite the inner rear face of the shell. 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 method 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. Summary 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:

[0019] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a helmet equipped with a neck brace in a stowed position;

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a helmet equipped with a neck strap in a position of use;

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a neck brace;

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a deformed neck brace to represent the position of use;

[0023] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a deformed neckband to represent the storage position;

[0024] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates a side view of a helmet with the neckband in the stowed position. Description of the implementation methods

[0025] Figures 1 to 6 represent different configurations of a helmet 1, preferably a helmet for mountaineering and working at height. The helmet 1 comprises a shell 2 designed to receive a user's head and a neck strap 3.

[0026] The cap 2 is made of a material that prevents it from folding back on itself. The cap 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, thermoformed plastic or foam.

[0027] The cap 2 defines a cap surface that represents the surface of the median plane of the cap 2 along the thickness direction. The cap surface 2 is a curved surface that is approximately a hemisphere. The cavity defined by the cap 2 is intended to receive a portion of a user's head.

[0028] 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 lateral part of the shell 2. The left attachment point 5 attaches the neck strap 3 to a left lateral part of the shell 2. The rear attachment point 6 attaches the neck strap 3 to a rear part of the shell 2. The right and left parts represent the right and left sides of the user wearing the helmet 1. The rear part of the shell 2 corresponds to the part closest to the occipital bone, while the front part corresponds to the part closest to the forehead.

[0029] The neck strap 3 can be attached directly to the shell 2 or it can be attached to an intermediate element attached to the shell 2. In the embodiment 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.

[0030] 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 movably mounted between a first position where the body 3a protrudes from the cap 2 to define a usage position ([Fig. 2]) and a second position where the body 3a is installed in the cavity of the cap 2 to define a storage position ([Fig. 1]). In the storage position, the inner face of the body 3a is opposite the rear inner face of the cap 2. As with certain 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 shape which deforms in order to go from the position of use to the position of storage.

[0031] During its deformation, the body 3a can define a "hard point" which allows for two distinct stable positions: the storage position and the operating position. The body 3a is curved and moves between the first and second positions by deforming elastically and reversing the radius of curvature of the curved shape. The reversal of the radius of curvature is observed along a radius extending from the center of the curve and penetrating first the outer or inner face, 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.

[0032] To facilitate the deformation of the body 3a, without putting too much stress on the other elements of the helmet 1, it is advantageous not to use hinges as was the case in the prior art configuration.

[0033] 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 and left attachment points. The use of a flexible textile element or an elastomeric material provides 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 3 of the neckband 3 relative to the rear attachment point 6.

[0034] 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 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. bulkier and heavier, which is unacceptable for equipment worn on the head for several hours, it is advantageous to use a right-hand flexible link 8 and a left-hand flexible link 9.

[0035] While the hinge defines a single pivot axis, the elastomeric material strip and the flexible textile element allow relative displacements according to the three dimensions which allows to better accommodate the deformation of the body 3a during its transitions between the storage position and the position of use.

[0036] It also appears that the use of an elastomeric material strip and a flexible textile element makes it possible to maintain a compact structure or even increase its compactness. The thicknesses of the elastomeric material strip 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 strip and the flexible textile element are elements that can deform upon contact with the user's head, thus reducing the risk of injury.

[0037] 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 stresses 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.

[0038] It is particularly advantageous that the elastomeric material band and the flexible textile element facilitate deformation along a transverse direction ZZ illustrated in [Fig. 6]. By transverse direction ZZ, we mean a vertical direction when the helmet 1 is worn, and the direction that is 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.Here again, the preferential deformation of the elastomer material strip 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 this helps maintain the compactness of the adjustment system 7. The front-to-back direction is illustrated by the axis XX.

[0039] The elastomer material band and the flexible textile element at each end of the neck strap 3 are able to deform independently of each other, which allows for better management of deformation and applied forces.

[0040] Particularly advantageously, the elastomeric material strip and the flexible textile element are capable of elastically deforming in extension along the longitudinal direction, that is to say, the direction which connects the two right and left attachment points via the rear attachment point 6. The deformation in The extension allows for increasing the head circumference or deforming the elastomer band and the flexible textile element to apply a reasonable constraint to the head during the adjustment phase. The extension deformation of the elastomer band and the flexible textile element allows for a better adaptation to the shape of the back of the head.

[0041] 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.

[0042] A textile element is understood to be 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 several layers.

[0043] Depending on the materials used, it is possible to have a textile material that exhibits high flexibility in both the transverse and lateral directions, but allows very little or no extension in the longitudinal direction. The textile material can be a statically indeterminate rope or webbing, i.e., with an elongation before breaking of less than 4%. It is also possible to have a dynamic webbing or rope, i.e., with an elongation of less than 15% or even less than 10%. It is advantageous to use the same materials as for climbing ropes, for example, polyamide or polyester. Given the materials used, the forces involved in adjusting the neck support 3 to the user's head result in negligible or even very low deformation.In this embodiment, the adjustment to the morphology of the head is almost exclusively achieved by the adjustment system, and the flexibility of the textile or elastomer material allows for a highly deformable connection to facilitate the deformation of the body between the storage position and the position of use.

[0044] 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 the elastomer material allows for a better fit to the user's head by limiting the length of the textile element or the elastomer material.

[0045] 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 as low as the elongation at break 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.

[0046] Depending on the configurations, the body 3a can be connected to the rear attachment point 6 by a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomer 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.

[0047] The use of a flexible textile element or a strip of elastomeric material allows the body 3a to move relative to the cap 2 in three distinct directions. This facilitates the deformation of the body 3a between the position of use and the storage position.

[0048] These embodiments are particularly advantageous because they make it easier to deform the body 3a between the storage position and the position of use.

[0049] In the storage position, the body 3a is installed inside the cap 2 and is attached by means of three connections, each comprising 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 that would cause the body 3a to hang out of the cap 2.

[0050] Since the body 3a is more easily deformed between the storage position and the position of use, it is possible to use a more encompassing body 3a, that is, a body 3a whose radius of curvature is closer to the radius of curvature of the cap 2 and / or a longer body 3a. The length of the body 3a is measured along the circumference. For example, the neckband 3 extends over at least 30% of the circumference of the cap 2, preferably at least 40%, and even more preferably at least 50%. Since the body 3a can be larger, it can extend over at least 20% of the circumference of the cap 2, preferably at least 30%, and even more preferably at least 40%.

[0051] The use of a flexible textile element or an elastomer strip that allows elongation along 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 strip. The body 3a can extend over a greater distance, which allows for better support of the back of the head.

[0052] The length of the body 3a is significantly greater than the distance between the right attachment point 4 and the left attachment point 5. Advantageously, the length 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 3 illustrates a neck brace 3 in a flat configuration. Figure 4 illustrates the same neck brace 3 deformed to represent the storage position, while Figure 5 illustrates the operating position.

[0053] In the embodiments illustrated in [Fig. 3], 4 and 5, the neckband 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.

[0054] Advantageously, the flexible textile element or the elastomer band has a first end fixed to the body 3 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] The manufacturing process for the helmet 1 can be described as follows. A shell 2 defining a cavity for receiving a user's head is provided. A neckband 3 having a body 3a defining an inner wall for contacting the occipital area of ​​the user's head is also provided.

[0057] 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 lateral part of the cap 2, a left attachment point 5 attaching the neck strap 3 to a left lateral part of the cap 2 and a rear attachment point 6 attaching the neck strap 3 to a rear part of the cap 2.

[0058] The body 3a is movably mounted 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 opposite 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 curved shape.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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 strip, which facilitates the deformation of the body 3a despite the three points of attachment to the cap 2.

[0061] The flexible textile element and the elastomer band allow three-dimensional deformation, which facilitates the deformation of body 3a.

[0062] 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

Demands

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 movably between a first position where the body protrudes from the cap (2) to define a position of use and a second position where the body (3a) is installed in the cavity to define a storage position, the inner face of the body (3a) being opposite the rear inner face of the cap (2) in the storage position; in which the body (3a) 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; characterized in that the 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 and left attachment points (4, 5).

2. Helmet 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 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 according to claim 3 in which the flexible connection is formed by said flexible textile element.

5. Helmet 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 the elongation at break of the plastic material forming the body.

6. Helmet 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 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 of 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 face 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 to 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 and left attachment points (4, 5)

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