A helmet arrangement

Abstract

A helmet ventilation strip 10 comprising an elongate element having a plurality of apertures in the external surface and at least one internal fluid channel allowing fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the strip. Also claimed is a helmet 12 having an outer shell and a plurality of the ventilation strips arranged internally of the outer shell. Preferably, at least one of the ventilation strips is shaped to align adjacent to another strip. The helmet may comprise recesses (28, fig. 6) for receiving the strips. The strips may be formed from a resilient plastics material. Also claimed is a method of providing ventilation strips, comprising the steps of scanning a user’s head to create a model and producing a plurality of inserts that correspond to the contours of the user’s head.

Description

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a ventilation device for a helmet, particularly for a sports helmet and, more especially for a cricket helmet. Background to the Invention Helmets are an important piece of personal protection equipment in various activities, for example, work, particularly construction, and for sporting activities, for example, cycling, cricket, baseball, skiing and skating. Oftentimes, helmets are larger than a user’s head and they may be held more securely on a user by inserting foam pads onto the internal surface, which allows the helmet to be more readily fitted to the contours of a user’s head. In addition to foam pads, in more recent times, it has become known to scan a user’s head and to create a three-dimensionally printed shell that fits snuggly to a user’s head and fits into a helmet, thereby reducing the risk of the helmet moving during use. Whilst a comfortable fit of the helmet is an important consideration, foam pads and shells can fill the space between the user’s head and the helmet and reduce the airflow, which can, in turn, make the helmet uncomfortable due to the increased build-up of heat. Foams often do not allow sufficient airflow through the internal structure to provide good ventilation. It has been shown that when a user wears a helmet, a wearer’s ability to perform certain activities can be reduced when heat builds up around the wearer’s head. Conventionally, one would create more air holes in the outer shell of the helmet, but this can reduce the protection afforded by the helmet. A further problem associated with the three-dimensional printing of head shells is that they take up a lot of space, particularly during transportation and can be very expensive to produce. Taking into account the space required to transport such shells, the emission produced per kilogram of product can be considerable, because there is a lot of empty space involved. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a helmet ventilation strip comprising an elongate element having a plurality of apertures in the external surface to allow fluid communication between the inside of the ventilation strip and the outside thereof. Thus, the present invention comprises a substantially elongate section of material having an internal space and an external surface. The internal space of the strip of material is substantially vacant of material internally, which is to say that it has an arrangement to allow the flow of air therein and therethrough. Thus, the internal section of the ventilation strip has at least one fluid channel to allow the passage of air through the ventilation strip, thereby allowing movement of air from one part of the ventilation strip to another. The external surface of the ventilation strip has a plurality of openings or apertures to allow airflow from outside the ventilation strip into the ventilation strip and therethrough, passing out of a different aperture in a different part of the ventilation strip. Thus, heat can be directed away from one location through the internal section of the ventilation strip, whereafter it can be dispersed. The internal space of the ventilation strip may be provided with a truss or scaffold that can be designed to crush when the ventilation strip is subjected a force greater than a predetermined amount. Thus, internal elements can be created within the ventilation strip that upon being subjected to a force will crush or fracture to disperse the force. The internal element acts as a crush zone to cushion impact, thereby reducing the risk of injury to a user. Such a ventilation strip can be created using a three-dimensional printing method. The ventilation strip may be created from a plastics material printed wire, thereby creating a wire frame allowing the flow of air therethrough, but also providing a gap or space between the user’s head and the helmet. Whilst a very open cell foam might be used in the present invention; however, a structure that is created with a clear and / or predetermined airflow channel is preferred. For example, a plastics material structure can allow a predictable and known amount of airflow. In some arrangements, the structure is printed, although it could be cast or extruded. Thus, compared with an open cell foam, the airflow through the ventilation strip of the present invention has a high degree of airflow. In one arrangement, the ventilation strips comprise a resilient plastics material. Such a material will allow the ventilation strip to flex, which can provide some degree of cushioning within the ventilation strips, thereby allowing some impact protection in addition to the improved airflow. The ventilation strips may be provided with a surface coating on one or more surfaces thereof. For example, a softer, cushioning material may be applied to the surface that will, in use, contact the wearer’s head. Similarly, an adhesive or part of a hook-and-eye arrangement may be provided on the surface that, in use, contacts the internal surface of the helmet. Further materials, such as a soft breathable material or a sweat-absorbing material may be applied to the strips. The invention extends to a helmet comprising: an outer protective shell; and a plurality of ventilation strips as described herein and, preferably, extending from the front of the helmet to the rear of the helmet internally of the outer shell. It is envisaged that the ventilation strips are best arranged in an orientation that runs from the front of the helmet to the rear, or substantially in the sagittal plane. Whilst the strips may run transversely or in another orientation, the flow of air and the user comfort are improved by having the ventilation strips passing front-to-back, rather than side-to-side. The ventilation strip may be arcuate to allow it to fit into the helmet more easily. Preferably, a least one of the plurality of ventilation strips is shaped to align adjacent another of the ventilation strips. To allow for improved airflow, the ventilation strips will, ideally, extend from one side of the helmet to the opposing side, running along the inner concave surface of the helmet. To that end, it is preferred the ventilation strips converge towards a position on the medial plane of the helmet at the rear of the helmet and / or at the front of the helmet. Thus, at least one of the ventilation strips may have an angled, tapered or chamfered section to allow it to fit adjacent another ventilation strip. This increases the airflow by enlarging the ventilation conduit through a first and into, and out of, an adjacent strip. Additionally, by fitting against an adjacent ventilation strip, the overall comfort to the user is improved as a more consistent fit is achieved, rather than having gaps between the strips. Advantageously, the internal surface of the helmet is provided with recesses for receiving the ventilation strips. Recesses, or depressions, in the internal surface of the helmet that are adapted to receive the ventilation strips, allow for correct alignment and / or positioning of the strips. Thus, where the strips are created to fit a particular contour of user’s head, the recesses can ensure that the strip is placed in the correct location in the helmet so that it is arrange against the correct section of the user’s head. This can be particularly beneficial because if the ventilation is arranged to fit a particular line along a user’s head and it is positioned in the wrong place within the concave internal surface of the helmet, the user will find the helmet to be uncomfortable. It will be appreciated that the different ventilation strips may fit into different recesses in the helmet. The invention further extends to a method of providing ventilation strips for use in a helmet as set out herein, the method comprising the steps of: scanning the contours of an intended user’s head; using the scanned contour information to create a model of the user’s head; assessing where on the user’s head a helmet will be positioned; and producing a plurality of three-dimensional ventilation inserts for insertion into the internal surface of a helmet, the ventilation inserts being sized to correspond to the contours of a user’s head. Thus, a person’s head may be scanned to obtain a three-dimensional model of the contours of the head upon which a helmet is to be worn. Once the model has been created, the simulation of where a helmet will best fit the person can be calculated. The simulation can then be used to determine where ventilation strips are best applied to the user’s head and the contours along that section of the three-dimensional model can be used to product a plurality of ventilation strips that can be applied to the inside of a helmet to make the wearing of the helmet more comfortable for the user. The ventilation strips will have a known surface for attachment to the inside of the helmet and a varying surface to fit the contours of the head upon which they are to be applied. Once the desired shape of the ventilation strips has been determined, the strips can then be produced. The production step is, preferably, undertaken using three-dimensional printing. This may be through deposition printing, for examiner, fused deposition modelling, or through powder fusion. Once the ventilation strips have been created, they can be sent to a user for insertion into the user’s helmet. Thus, the present invention may further comprise the step of applying the ventilation inserts the internal surface of a helmet. Where the ventilation strips are to be transported to a user, the space required to transport them is considerably less than transporting a full-head shell or a helmet with the ventilation strips therein. This results in a smaller carbon footprint and less energy involved in transporting the ventilation strips when compared to transporting a head-shell, thereby making the present invention more environmentally friendly than existing methods. Having the ventilation strips conforming to the contours of the wearer’s head allows the helmet to be more securely and more comfortably worn by the wearer. Thus, the helmet is less likely to slip or move when worn. Once the user’s three-dimensional model is stored, further ventilation strips may be produced quickly when required. This may be important in situations where a helmet may become damaged and require replacement, for example in cycling after a crash. Thus, the user can have a comfortably fitting replacement helmet relatively quickly. It will be appreciated that the helmet can be used in many activities, including construction, and for sporting activities, such as cycling, cricket, baseball and skiing or skating. The ventilation strips can increase the airflow within the helmet by creating a gap between the user and the internal surface of the helmet. This can have the additional advantage of providing some impact protection by cushioning any impact and spreading the load over a larger area. Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment / Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an image showing a ventilation strip in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a plurality of ventilation strips of the present invention; Figure 3 is another view of the arrangement of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a further view of the arrangement of Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is helmet in accordance with the present invention with the ventilation strip arrangement contained therein; Figure 6 is a further view of a helmet according to the present invention; Figure 7 is another view of a helmet according to the present invention; Figure 8 is a view of the ventilation strips of the present invention when adjacent a user’s head; and Figure 9 is a section view of a helmet according to the present invention when worn by a user. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments Figures 1 to 9 show a plurality of ventilation strips 10 and a helmet 12 in accordance with the present invention. The ventilation strip 10 is in the form of an elongate and substantially arcuate element that has a generally rectangular cross-section along the majority of its length. It will be appreciated that the cross-section of the ventilation strips may be adjusted according to the intended shape and purpose of the strip 10. The ventilation strip 10 has an open structure to allow the ingress of air into the interior of the strip and to allow the egress of air therefrom. Thus, the outer surface is provided with a plurality of apertures 14 so air can pass through the ventilation strip 12 to allow the movement of heated air through the strip and away from the user’s head 15. As shown in Figure 1, the structure may be in the form of a printed wire structure 16. The exterior surface 18 of the ventilation strip 10 can be provided with a smoother surface 20 to allow adhesion to the internal surface of a helmet 12 and to provide a more comfortable surface 21 for contacting a user’s head. The ventilation strips 10 may provide some protection from impact due to the internal structure of filaments that can be used to form a resilient scaffold or truss, thereby providing a structure than can dissipate impact over the whole structure. In a preferred arrangement, four ventilation strips 10a, 10b, 10c, lOd are provided for use in a helmet. The ventilation strips 10a to lOd are shaped align along the internal part of a helmet 12, in order to provide comfort and ventilation to a wearer. Thus, the ventilation strips 10a to lOd can be shaped and arranged to converge upon a predetermined location, for example, the median plane of a helmet. It will be appreciated that the internal surface and the external surface of each of the plurality of ventilation strips are not identical. In order to fit the converging ventilation strips 10a to lOd within the helmet, the lead edge 22 and tail edge 24 can be shaped so that the respective ventilation strips can fit closely together. Thus, the lead edge 22 and the tail edge 24 can be tapered or chamfered so that an angle is provided on the end of the strip. As shown in Figures 2 to 8, this allows the ventilation strips 10a to lOd to be arranged so that they fit together to provide comfort and protection to the user’s head, whilst maintaining an airflow gap 26 between the ventilation strips. The lead edges 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are shaped to fit around one another, thereby providing a surface at the front internal surface of the helmet 12, which will correspond to the location of the user’s forehead. The helmet 12 can be provided with recesses 28 so that the ventilation strips 10 can be positioned accurately with the helmet 12. The recesses 28 may be provided with a profile that allow for the snap-fitting of the ventilation strips 10 within the helmet, or they may be shaped to allow for adhesive to hold the ventilation strips 10 in place. It will be appreciated that other fixing arrangements may be employed, for example, hook-and-eye fastening or other fixings. The helmet 12 may have ventilation holes 30 within its structure to allow the movement of air from within the helmet 12 to the outside. Clearly, the shape and arrangement of the ventilation strips 10 within the helmet may be adjusted. For example, it may be desirable in some arrangements to have a different number of ventilation strips, for example, two, three, four, five or six strips. More strips may provide further comfort to the user and may provide more impact protection. The ventilation strips could be created to have a hollow internal structure to more readily allow the follow of air therethrough. Whilst this may have advantages in respect of airflow, the lack of an internal structure may make the ventilation strip weaker in respect of impact resistance.

Claims

1. A helmet ventilation strip for application to the internal surface of a helmet, the ventilation strip being in the form of an elongate element, having a length greater than its width, and having a fixing surface and an opposing head facing surface and a resilient plastics material printed wire frame lattice structure and plurality of apertures in the external surface, and at least one internal fluid channel, to allow fluid communication between the inside of the ventilation strip and the outside thereof, wherein the strip further comprises an integral internal resilient plastics material printed wire frame scaffold or lattice structure and the elongate element constructed with an arcuate fixing surface to allow the elongate strip to be affixed to the internal surface of a helmet wherein the arcuate fixing surface is sufficiently resilient to substantially maintain its shape before and after the elongate strip is affixed to the internal surface of a helmet.

2. A helmet ventilation strip according to claim 1, wherein the resilient plastics material printed wire frame lattice structure passes through the body of the ventilation strip and connects to the fixing surface and to the head facing surface,3. A helmet ventilation strip according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the strip has a substantially constant width along its length.

4. A helmet ventilation strip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one end of the elongate element has a chamfered section.

5. A sports helmet comprising:an outer protective shell; anda plurality of ventilation strips according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the strips being arranged internally of the outer shell and with a gap between at least part of the adjacent strips, and so that, in use, the head facing surfaces of the ventilation strips are adjacent the wearer’s head.08 02 246. A sports helmet according to claim 5, wherein a least one of the plurality of ventilation strips is shaped to align adjacent another of the ventilation strips so that chamfered surfaces of the respective ventilation strips are adjacent one another.

7. A sports helmet according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the internal surface of the helmet is provided with recesses for receiving the fixing surfaces of the ventilation strips.

8. A sports helmet according to any preceding claim, wherein the ventilation strips are arranged so that a first end of the elongate element is positioned on a first side of the internal portion of the helmet and the second end of the elongate element is positioned opposite the first side.

9. A method of providing ventilation strips for use in a sports helmet according toany of claims 5 to 8, the method comprising the steps of:scanning the contours of an intended user’s head;using the scanned contour information to create a model of the user’s head; assessing where on the user’s head a sports helmet will be positioned; and producing a plurality of three-dimensional ventilation inserts according to any one of claims 1 to 4 by way of additive manufacture, for insertion into the internal surface of a sports helmet, the ventilation inserts being sized and shaped so that the head facing surface corresponds to the contours of a user’s head.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the step of applying the fixing surface of the ventilation inserts to the internal surface of a sports helmet.

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