Protection helmet

Abstract

This invention concerns a helmet (100) for the protection of a user's head comprising a cap (10), defining a bottom opening and a front opening, and a visor (20) configured to assume a lowered position, wherein it at least partially covers the front opening, and a raised position, and an intermediate position between the lowered position and the raised position. The helmet (100) also comprises a handling assembly comprising a first displacement member (30) and a second displacement member (40), where the first displacement member (30) is configured for a displacement along a first displacement seat (31) of the cap (10), and the second displacement member (40) is configured for a displacement along a second displacement seat (41) of the cap (10). The helmet also comprises a connection member (50) suitable for rigidly connecting the first displacement member (30) and the second displacement member (40) and, in addition, the rigid connecting member is attached to the visor (20). In particular, a displacement of the second displacement member (40) along the second displacement seat (41) corresponds to a displacement of the first displacement member (30) along the first displacement seat (31) and to a displacement of the visor (20) along a trajectory, or part of a trajectory, from the lowered position to the raised position or vice versa. In addition, the first displacement member (30) is, or includes at least, one bearing (36) and the first displacement seat (31) is configured to allow a displacement of said first displacement member (30) and / or the second displacement member (40) is, or includes at least one, bearing (136) and the second displacement seat (41) is configured to allow a displacement of said second displacement member (40).

Description

[0001] PROTECTION HELMET

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] This invention generally refers to a protective helmet. In particular, this invention concerns a helmet for the protection of a user's head and also concerns a method for opening and closing the visor of a helmet.

[0004] The use of a visor to protect the front opening of the helmet is known in protective helmets. The ability to move the visor between a lowered position, in which the visor covers the front opening of the helmet, and a raised position, in which the front opening is clear of the visor, is also known.

[0005] Generally, the visor is moved by the user to be raised or lowered. Furthermore, in helmets according to the prior art, the user is required to raise the visor to the raised position, or vice versa, to lower it to the lowered position. That is, the helmet's visor must be moved along its entire displacement trajectory between the lowered and the raised position, or vice versa. In particular, in order to allow such movement, the visor is connected to the cap by means of a sliding element that can slide within a respective guide.

[0006] The basis of this invention is a recognition on the part of the inventor of this invention that protective helmets such as those made available to date by the prior art, while advantageous in many respects, have certain limitations.

[0007] In detail, in helmets according to the prior art, the visor can remain locked between the raised and lowered position if the user does not move it to the desired position. In addition, the movement of the visor between the lowered and the raised position, or vice versa, requires prolonged displacement of the sliding element within the cap guide, which can cause slowdowns and prevent effective use of the helmet by the user.

[0008] This discussion starts from the position of the technical problem of providing a protective helmet, and a method for opening and closing a visor of a protective helmet that enables the above-mentioned needs to be met with reference to the prior art and / or additional advantages to be achieved.

[0009] This is achieved by means of a helmet and a method according to their respective independent claims. Secondary characteristics of the subject of this invention are defined in the corresponding dependent claims.

[0010] In particular, according to this invention, in order to improve the prior art an improvement to the visor handling mechanism is proposed.

[0011] To this end, a helmet for the protection of a user's head is proposed comprising a cap, defining a bottom opening and a front opening, and a visor configured to assume a lowered position, wherein the visor at least partially covers the front opening, a raised position at least partially above the front opening, and an intermediate position between the lowered position and the raised position.

[0012] The helmet also comprises a handling assembly comprising at least one first displacement member and a second displacement member, where the first displacement member is configured for a displacement along a first displacement seat of the cap, and the second displacement member is configured for a displacement along a second displacement seat of the cap. In addition, the helmet includes a connection member, for example a rigid connecting member, for example a single arm, designed to connect the first displacement member and the second displacement member. In particular, since there is the connection, a displacement of the second displacement member along the second displacement seat corresponds to a displacement of the first displacement member along the first displacement seat and a displacement of the visor along a trajectory, or part of a trajectory, from one or the other of either said lowered position and said raised position to said intermediate position and / or from said intermediate position to one or the other of either said lowered position to said raised position, and vice versa. The connection therefore reduces the degree of freedom of the first displacement member.

[0013] In addition, according to one aspect of this invention, at least the first displacement member is, or comprises, a bearing designed to cooperate with the first displacement seat and / or the second displacement member is, or comprises, a respective bearing designed to cooperate with the second displacement seat. That is, at least one of the two displacement members provides for the adoption of at least one bearing, and this bearing can be displaced with respect to the respective displacement seat. A rotoidal coupling between the bearing and the respective displacement seat is achieved, which facilitates movement and reduces the risk of jamming the displacement mechanism.

[0014] The displacement seat is preferably a fixed seat, formed in support flanges that are in turn attached to a helmet cap.

[0015] In particular, when the first displacement member moves along the first displacement seat, the second displacement member also moves along the second displacement seat, and the visor also moves at least a partial distance between the lowered and the raised position or vice versa.

[0016] In practice, according to this invention, the helmet comprises a connection member, preferably a rigid connecting member, connecting a first displacement member and a second displacement member and the visor, wherein at least one of either the first displacement member or the second displacement member is, or includes, a bearing. The bearing is preferably a radial bearing designed to bear a load in a direction radial to the bearing when it moves relative to the displacement seat.

[0017] The one and / or the other of either the first displacement member and the second displacement member preferably comprises a pin body and said bearing is installed in a fixed manner on said pin body. The pin body defines the bearing axle or shaft and the radial load is preferably orthogonal to said axle or shaft, said load acts on an external washer revolving in relation to the pin body.

[0018] The pin body is attached in turn to the connection member, which in turn is attached to the visor in order to make the movement of the displacement members consistent with the movement of the visor between the raised and lowered position of the visor.

[0019] Said bearing comprises the external washer or external annular body, an internal washer or internal annular body, wherein the external washer is designed to interact with walls defined in the corresponding displacement seat.

[0020] It is, preferably, a rolling bearing, including multiple rolling elements. Even more preferably, the rolling elements are multiple balls and, therefore, it is a ball bearing.

[0021] The internal and external washers comprise respective tracks for the sliding of the rolling elements.

[0022] The bearing is preferably fitted with lateral shielding components interposed between the external annular body / external washer and the internal annular body / internal washer to shield the rolling elements from dust.

[0023] It is to be understood that other types of bearings, such as sliding bearings, magnetic bearings, or other known bearings, may be provided. For example, sliding bushings with a dry running, self-lubricating polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface can be provided as bearings.

[0024] Only the first displacement member is, preferably, equipped with a bearing that moves relative to the first displacement seat. In this case, the second displacement member is a pin component that slides directly into the sliding seat. Said second displacement member is preferably part of a first connecting rod pivoted or joined by means of a rotoidal connection to the cap. In this way, the connection member is connected indirectly to the cap by means of the second displacement member.

[0025] Alternatively, always preferably both the first displacement member includes at least one sliding bearing in the first displacement seat and the second displacement member includes at least one sliding bearing in the second displacement seat to facilitate the respective movements.

[0026] In addition, according to this invention, a method of opening and / or closing the visor of a helmet is provided, the visor being configured to assume a lowered position, a raised position, and an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position, wherein the helmet comprises a cap, and a handling assembly comprising a first displacement member and a second displacement member connected by a rigid connecting member attached to the visor. In particular, the method involves the following steps:

[0027] - a first displacement of the second displacement member along the second displacement seat and a first displacement of the first displacement member along the first displacement seat and a transfer of the visor from the lowered position to the intermediate position,

[0028] - a second displacement of the second displacement member along the second displacement seat and a second displacement of the first displacement member along the first displacement seat and a transfer of the visor from the intermediate position to the raised position,

[0029] - a third displacement of the second displacement member along the second displacement seat and a third displacement of the first displacement member along the first displacement seat and a transfer of the visor from the raised position to the intermediate position,

[0030] - a fourth displacement of the second displacement member along the second displacement seat and a fourth displacement of the first displacement member along the first displacement seat and a transfer of the visor from the intermediate position to the lowered position.

[0031] In practice, according to this method, the visor of the protective helmet can be opened and / or closed by means of a series of displacements of the first displacement member and the second displacement member, which are connected to each other and to the visor, along their respective displacement seats. In particular, the visor can move between the lowered position and the intermediate position, or vice versa, and between the intermediate position and the raised position, or vice versa, depending on the displacement made by the first displacement member and the second displacement member in the respective displacement seats. At least one of either the first displacement member or the second displacement member is, or includes, at least one bearing and the first and / or second displacement seat, respectively, are sliding guides to facilitate the displacements of the respective bearings.

[0032] The second displacement member is preferably connected to the cap by means of a spring member configured to assume a rest condition and a loaded condition, in which the spring is loaded. In particular, preferably during the first and third displacement of the second displacement member, and, therefore, during the visor's transition from the lowered to the intermediate position, or from the raised to the intermediate position, the spring member is loaded, that is, it switches from the rest to the loaded condition. In addition, preferably during the second and fourth displacement of the second displacement member, and, therefore, during the visor's transition from the intermediate to the raised position, or from the intermediate to the lowered position, the spring member is unloaded, that is, it switches from the loaded to the rest condition. That is to say, preferably the spring member can facilitate the second and fourth displacement of the second displacement member, and thus the transition of the visor from the intermediate position to the raised position, or from the intermediate position to the lowered position, by means of the elastic return of the spring.

[0033] Additional advantages, characteristics, and ways of using the subject of this invention will be evident from the following detailed description of its embodiments, presented by way of non-limiting example.

[0034] It is, however, evident that each embodiment of the subject of this invention may have one or more of the advantages listed above; in any case, it is not required that each embodiment have all the advantages listed at the same time.

[0035] Reference will be made to the figures in the attached drawings, wherein:

[0036] - Figure 1 shows a front view of a helmet according to one embodiment of this invention, in which the visor is in the raised position;

[0037] - Figure 2 shows a front view of the helmet in Figure 1 , wherein the visor is in the lowered position;

[0038] - Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the helmet in Figure 1 ;

[0039] - Figure 3A shows a view of the detail III in Figure 3; - Figure 4 shows an axonometric view from a first side of the visor with the handling assembly in Figure 3 partially assembled;

[0040] - Figure 5 shows an axonometric view from a second side of the visor with the handling assembly in Figure 3 partially assembled;

[0041] - Figure 6 shows the visor in detail with the handling assembly of the helmet in Figure 1, wherein the visor is in the raised position;

[0042] - Figure 7 shows the visor, in detail, with the handling assembly in Figure 6, wherein the visor is in the intermediate position;

[0043] - Figure 8 shows the visor, in detail, with the handling assembly in Figure 6, wherein the visor is in the lowered position;

[0044] - Figure 9 shows a detailed view of a visor with the handling assembly for the helmet in Figure 1, according to one embodiment.

[0045] With reference to the attached figures, some embodiments of a protective helmet are indicated, as a whole, with the reference number 100.

[0046] In particular, the helmet 100 comprises a cap 10, defining a bottom opening and a front opening, and a visor 20 configured to assume a lowered position, wherein it at least partially covers said front opening, and a raised position, and an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position. In the raised position, the visor 20 is placed at least partially beyond and above the front opening. As can be seen from the drawings, the cap 10 is fitted with an energy-absorbing layer generally designated with reference number 13, facing the user's head. The components that are referred to below as being attached or connected to the cap 10 are attached and connected in particular to said energy-absorbing layer 13.

[0047] The helmet 100 is intended to be worn by a user. It is to be understood within the scope of this invention that any spatial reference such as frontal, raised, lowered, above, below, etc. is made by way of non-limiting example with reference to the condition in which the helmet is worn.

[0048] The helmet 100 also includes an articulated handling assembly 11, attached on one side to the cap 10 and on the other side to the visor 20.

[0049] More specifically, the handling assembly 11 comprises a first displacement member 30 and a second displacement member 40. In particular, the first displacement member 30 is configured for a displacement along a first displacement seat 31 , attached and joined to the cap 10 and the second displacement member 40 is configured for a displacement along a second displacement seat 41 attached and joined to the cap 10. More specifically, the helmet 100 can include two identical, symmetrical displacement assemblies on both sides of the helmet, relative to a sagittal plane. Below, only one handling assembly and one operation method is described, with the understanding that two assemblies can be provided, one on a right-hand side and one on a left-hand side of the helmet.

[0050] That is to say, the first displacement seat 31 and the second displacement seat 41 may be formed along a portion of the cap 10, preferably towards the inside of the helmet, or they may be formed on an element joined to the cap, preferably along the inner side of the cap 10. The “inner side of the cap” 10 refers to the side facing the inner cavity of the helmet 100 designed to accommodate the user’s head. In the embodiment that can be seen in the drawings, the first displacement seat 31 and the second displacement seat 41 are formed in plate components 310 and 410 attached by means of screws to the cap 10.

[0051] The first displacement member 30 and the second displacement member 40 are structures capable of sliding in their respective displacement seat 40, 41.

[0052] Each handling assembly 11 further comprises a connection member 50, preferably a rigid connecting member 50, for connecting the first displacement member 30 and the second displacement member 40 together, wherein, for example, the connection member is attached to the visor 20 by respective screws 51, 52.

[0053] That is to say, the rigid connecting member 50 is an arm connecting the first displacement member 30 and the second displacement member 40, preferably in a rotoidal manner, that is, in such a manner that preferably the rigid connecting member 50, the first displacement member 30, and the second displacement member 40 are integral in translation and free to rotate on the same plane.

[0054] In addition, as mentioned above, the rigid connecting member 50 is attached to the visor 20. In other words, the rigid connecting member 50, the first displacement member 30, and the second displacement member 40 and the visor 20 are integral in their movements, that is, the movement or displacement of one of them entails the movement or displacement of the others, defining a kinematic chain with only one degree of freedom.

[0055] In particular, a displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41 corresponds to a displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and to a displacement of the visor 20 along a trajectory, or part of a trajectory, from the lowered position to the raised position or vice versa. That is, such movements or displacements of the first displacement member 30, the second displacement member 40, and the visor 20 are constrained movements or displacements, that is, when one of them is moved or displaced, the others are also moved or displaced. In other words, the connections between the first displacement member 30, the second displacement member 40, and the visor 20 limit the degrees of freedom of the movements or displacements connected with them, i.e. they are constrained by each other's movements. That is to say, the displacement members move in their respective displacement seats and the visor 20 follows a predefined trajectory, and the movement of each of them entails the movement of the others along their respective guides and / or trajectories.

[0056] In addition, according to one aspect of this invention, the first displacement member 30 is, or at least includes, a bearing 36, 136 that can slide, for example is accommodated sliding, in the displacement seat 31 and / or the second displacement member 40 is, or at least includes, a bearing that can slide in the second displacement seat 41. That is, at least one of either the first displacement member 30 and the second displacement member 40 is, or comprises, a bearing 36, 136 configured to slide along the respective displacement seat where it is accommodated (Figures 3-5, and Figure 9). The seat is therefore a rolling seat for an external washer 36d of the bearing around its own axis or shaft, as will be explained below. Such a rotoidal coupling between the external washer 36d of the bearing and the displacement seat enables and facilitates handling by reducing the risk of blocking and jams.

[0057] In the embodiment in Figures 1-8, preferably only the first displacement member 30 comprises the bearing 36. The first displacement member 30 preferably comprises a first pin body 35 and the bearing 36 fixedly mounted on the pin body 35.

[0058] In particular, the bearing 36 is preferably a radial load bearing. The bearing 36 is therefore designed to carry a load from the walls of the displacement seat 30, in a direction orthogonal to the pin body 35.

[0059] Even more preferably, it is a so-called rolling bearing, preferably a ball bearing, that is, it is provided with balls 36a, a ring-shaped retaining cage 36b to hold the balls 36a in position, an internal ring-shaped body 36c, or internal washer, provided with a respective track for the balls, an external ring-shaped body 36d, or external washer, provided with a respective track for the balls 36a and two lateral protection elements 36e and 36f, or shield annular bodies, for dust protection. The bearing 36 has, as mentioned, a rotation axis coinciding with the axis of the pin body 35. The latter acts as the bearing shaft.

[0060] It follows that, due to the geometry of the parts identified above, the internal ringshaped body 36c is the fixed part of the bearing 36 and the external ring-shaped body 36d is the moving part of the bearing 36.

[0061] The displacement seat 30 within which the external washer of the bearing 36 slides is preferably increased to allow the bearing 36 to slide, for example between 0.1 and 0.3mm, preferably by about 0.2mm.

[0062] The inside diameter of the internal washer 36c of the bearing 36 is preferably between 10mm and 5mm, preferably 7mm, the external diameter of the external washer 36d of the bearing is between 10mm and 16mm, preferably 13mm. The bearings 36 have diameter tolerances of type H7 (approximately 0.02mm). The width of the displacement seat 31 is between approximately 10mm and 16mm, preferably approximately 13.15mm.

[0063] In this embodiment, the second displacement member 40 includes a pin component that slides along the respective sliding seat. Said second displacement member is preferably part of a first connecting rod 60 pivoted or attached by means of a rotoidal connection to the cap 10.

[0064] The second displacement member 40 preferably comprises a second pin body 45. The second pin body 45 is mounted at one free end of the connecting rod 60 and slides along the second displacement seat 41.

[0065] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 9 and described below, the second displacement member 40 also comprises, as mentioned, a bearing 136, preferably a bearing with the same characteristics as described above for the bearing 36.

[0066] In addition, preferably the rigid connecting member 50 is a second connecting rod connected with clearance to the first pin body 35 of the first displacement member 30 and connected with clearance to the second pin body 45 of the second displacement member 40 in such a way as to command or control the displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31. As mentioned above, the rigid connecting member 50 preferably connects the first displacement member 30, the second displacement member 40, and the visor 20 to each other.

[0067] It follows that, preferably, both the first displacement member 30 and the second displacement member 40 comprise a respective first pin body 35 and second pin body 45, to which the rigid connecting member 50 is connected in order to allow a rotoidal coupling between the first displacement member 30 and the second displacement member 40, which can guide or control a displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31.

[0068] The displacement of the second displacement member 40 is preferably a first displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41 and the displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 is a first displacement of the first displacement member 30, and a transfer of the visor 20 from the lowered position to the intermediate position corresponds to the first displacement of the second displacement member 40 and to the first displacement of the first displacement member 30.

[0069] In addition, a second displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the intermediate position to the raised position preferably corresponds to a second displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41.

[0070] In addition, a third displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the raised position to the intermediate position corresponds to a third displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41.

[0071] In addition, a fourth displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the intermediate position to the lowered position corresponds to a fourth displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41.

[0072] The first displacement of the second displacement member 40 is preferably a displacement in a first displacement direction from one start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41 to an end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41. In addition, the second displacement of the second displacement member 40 is preferably a displacement in a displacement direction opposite to the first displacement direction from the end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41 to the start-of-stroke position in the second displacement 41. In addition, the third displacement of the second displacement member 40 is preferably a displacement in the first displacement direction from the start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41 to the end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41. In addition, the fourth displacement of the second displacement member 40 is preferably a displacement in a displacement direction opposite to the first displacement direction from the end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41 to the start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41.

[0073] That is, the second displacement member 40 can move between a start-of-stroke position and an end-of-stroke position of the second displacement seat 41 , in the first displacement and in the third displacement, and it can move between the end-of-stroke position and the start-of-stroke position of the second displacement seat 41 , in the second displacement and in the fourth displacement.

[0074] The second displacement seat 41 is preferably shaped in an arc or according to a curved trajectory. That is, the second displacement member 40 can move along an arc or curved trajectory of the second displacement seat 41, preferably with its convexity towards the rear of the helmet.

[0075] The first displacement seat 31 is preferably shaped like an inverted "II” with its concavity facing the rear area of the helmet and extending between a first end 31a and a second end 31b, where a position of the first displacement member 30 in the first end 31a of the first displacement seat 31 corresponds to the lowered position of the visor 20, and where a position of the first displacement member 30 in the second end 31b of the first displacement seat 31 corresponds to the raised position of the visor 20.

[0076] That is to say that, preferably, at the end of the second displacement, identified above, the first displacement member 30 is located at the second end 31b of the first displacement seat 31 and that at the limit of the fourth displacement the first displacement member 30 is located at the first end 31a of the first displacement seat 31.

[0077] The first “II” shaped displacement seat 31 preferably includes a bottom, "II"- shaped intermediate section 31c interposed between the first end 31a and the second end 31b, wherein a position of the first displacement member 30 in the intermediate section 31c corresponds to an intermediate position of the visor 20 between the lowered position and the raised position.

[0078] That is, preferably at the limit of the first displacement and the third displacement, the first displacement member 30 is located in the intermediate section 31c of the first displacement seat 31.

[0079] The first displacement seat 31 is intended, as mentioned, to accommodate, with appropriate clearance, the bearing 36. The first displacement seat also has an attraction magnet 37 arranged at the second end 31b to keep the bearing 36 firmly in that position when the visor 20 is raised, and to make it possible to keep the visor raised.

[0080] The first displacement seat 31 is additionally equipped with a damping component 38, which has elastic behaviour. The damping component 38 is a frame that can be inserted, in a fixed way, into the displacement seat 31 and has two arcs 38a, 38b with the convexity facing the centre of the displacement seat 31. The two arcs 38a, 38b are intended to be momentarily deformed when the bearing 36 passes through them.

[0081] The damping component 38 is arranged between the second end 31b and the intermediate section 31c, that is, close to an end-of-stroke position of the bearing 36 after the second displacement.

[0082] The first displacement seat 31 is additionally provided with a visor closure rubber damper 39 arranged at the first end 31a of the displacement seat 31, that is, at the end of stroke of the bearing 36, after the fourth displacement.

[0083] The second displacement seat 41 preferably extends between a first limit 41a, corresponding to the start-of-stroke position of the second displacement member 40, and a second limit 41b, corresponding to the end-of-stroke position of the second displacement member 40. That is to say that when the second displacement member 40 is in the start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41 it is at the first limit 41a of the second displacement seat 41, and that when the second displacement member 40 is in the end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat 41 it is at the second limit 41 b of the second displacement seat 41.

[0084] In addition, preferably a position of the second displacement member 40 in the first limit 41a of the second displacement seat 41 corresponds to the position of the first displacement member 30 in the second end 31b of the first displacement seat 31 or to the position of the first displacement member 30 in the first end 31a of the first displacement seat 31. In addition, preferably a position of the second displacement member 40 in the second limit 41b of the second displacement seat 41 corresponds to the position of the first displacement member 30 in the bottom, "U"-shaped intermediate section 31c of the first displacement seat 31 (as can be seen in Figure 9). This means that for every complete displacement in the first displacement seat between the start and end of stroke, or vice versa, that is, there and back, two complete displacements occur in the second displacement location, there and back.

[0085] That is to say, preferably when the second displacement member 40 is in the first limit 41a of the second displacement seat 41 , the visor may be in the lowered position or in the raised position, while when the second displacement member 40 is in the second limit 41b of the second displacement seat 41, the visor is in the intermediate position.

[0086] Also, as mentioned, the second displacement member 40 is preferably attached to the cap 10 in a rotoidal manner via the first connecting rod 60. That is to say, the second displacement member can rotate around an attachment point F (Figure 4) of the second connecting rod 60, which acts as a rotation arm on a rotation plane.

[0087] Still more preferably, the second displacement member 40 is attached to the cap 10 by means of a spring member 70 configured to be able to assume a rest condition and a loaded condition. In particular, preferably the rest condition of the spring member 70 corresponds to the position of the second displacement member 40 in the start-of- stroke position in the second displacement seat 41, and the loaded condition of the spring member 70 corresponds to the position of the second displacement member 40 in the end-of-stroke position of the second displacement seat 41.

[0088] Therefore, the spring member 70 can preferably facilitate, by means of an elastic return from the loaded condition to the rest condition, a displacement of the second displacement member 40 from the end-of-stroke position, that is, from the second limit 41b, in the second displacement seat 41 to the start-of-stroke position, that is, from the first limit 41a, in the second displacement seat 41.

[0089] As a result, the spring member 70 can preferably facilitate, by means of an elastic return from the loaded condition to the rest condition, a movement of the visor 20 from the intermediate position to the raised position, or from the intermediate position to the lowered position.

[0090] That is, when the second displacement member 40 moves to the end-of-stroke position, the spring member 70 assumes the loaded condition and facilitates the return of the second displacement member 40 to the start-of-stroke position, and thus facilitates the opening or closing of the visor 20 from the intermediate position.

[0091] According to one embodiment shown in Figure 9, and as mentioned earlier, the second displacement member 40 may be, or may at least comprise, a coupling via the respective bearing 136 in the displacement seat 41. The bearing 136 is attached to the second pin body 45 which in turn is attached to the rigid connecting member 50, that is, the second connecting rod. For example, the spring member 170 can be fixed on one side to the cap 10, and on the other side in a hole in the pin body 45. The bearing 136 can move along the second displacement seat 41 between the first limit 41a and the second limit 41b, as described above. The bearing 136 can be manufactured to the same specifications as the bearing 36.

[0092] It follows that for this alternative embodiment, all the characteristics previously described for the embodiment in Figures 1-8 apply.

[0093] A method of opening and / or closing the visor 20 of a helmet 100 is also the subject of this invention, wherein the visor 20 is configured to assume a lowered position, a raised position, and an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position, and wherein the helmet 100 comprises a cap 10, and at least one handling assembly 11 comprising a first displacement member 30 and a second displacement member 40 connected by a rigid connecting member 50 attached to the visor 20. In addition, the method involves the following steps:

[0094] - a first displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41 and a first displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the lowered position to the intermediate position,

[0095] - a second displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41 and a second displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the intermediate position to the raised position,

[0096] - a third displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41 and a third displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the raised position to the intermediate position,

[0097] - a fourth displacement of the second displacement member 40 along the second displacement seat 41 and a fourth displacement of the first displacement member 30 along the first displacement seat 31 and a transfer of the visor 20 from the intermediate position to the lowered position. The first displacement member 30 is or includes a bearing 36 sliding along the first displacement seat 31 and / or the second displacement member 40 is or includes a bearing 136 sliding along the second displacement seat 41.

[0098] The second displacement member 40 is preferably attached to the cap 10 by means of a spring member 70, for example a helical spring or a torsion spring, configured to assume a rest condition and a loaded condition, wherein: when the second displacement member 40 carries out the first displacement, the spring member 70 passes from the rest condition to the loaded condition, subsequently, the spring member 70 is discharged from the loaded condition to the rest condition, facilitating the second displacement of the second displacement member 40, when the second displacement member 40 carries out the third displacement, the spring member 70 passes from the rest condition to the loaded condition, subsequently, the spring member 70 is discharged from the loaded condition to the rest condition, facilitating the fourth displacement of the second displacement member 40. As a result, the spring member 70 can facilitate the movement of the visor 20 from the intermediate position to the raised position or from the intermediate position to the lowered position, by means of the elastic or discharged return from the loaded condition to the rest condition.

[0099] The helmet can be used to fine-tune said method as described with reference to Figures 1-9.

[0100] The subject of this invention has so far been described with reference to its embodiments. It is to be understood that there may be other embodiments pertaining to the same inventive core, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the claims set forth below.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A helmet (100) for the protection of a user's head comprising:- a cap (10) defining a bottom opening and a front opening;- a visor (20) configured to assume a lowered position, wherein it at least partially covers said front opening, a raised position, and an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position; wherein said helmet (100) comprises at least one handling assembly comprising a first displacement member (30) and a second displacement member (40), and wherein said first displacement member (30) is configured for a displacement along a first displacement seat (31) of said cap (10), and wherein said second displacement member (40) is configured for a displacement along a second displacement seat (41) of said cap (10),- a connection member (50) suitable for connecting the first displacement member (30) and the second displacement member (40), and wherein a displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41) corresponds to a displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and to a movement of said visor (20) along a trajectory, or part of a trajectory, from one or the other of either said lowered position and said raised position to said intermediate position and / or from said intermediate position to one or the other between said lowered position and said raised position, and vice versa; and wherein said first displacement member (30) is, or includes at least, a bearing (36) and said first displacement seat (31) is configured to allow a displacement of said first displacement member (30) and / or wherein said second displacement member (40) is, or includes at least one bearing (136) and said second displacement seat (41) is configured to allow a displacement of said second displacement member (40).

2. The helmet (100) according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bearing (36, 136) is a radial bearing, capable of supporting a load in a radial direction to a shaft of the bearing itself along the respective displacement seat (31, 41).

3. The helmet (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one and / or the other of the first displacement member (30) and the second displacement member (40) preferably comprises a pin body (35, 45) and said bearing (36, 136) is installed in afixed manner on said pin body (35, 45), wherein the pin body (35, 45) defines the bearing shaft.

4. The helmet (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said bearing (36, 136) comprises an external washer (36d), or external annular body, an internal washer (36c) or internal annular body, wherein the external washer (36d) is a mobile part of the bearing and is suitable for interacting with walls defined in the respective displacement seat (31, 41).

5. The helmet (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bearing (36, 136) is a rolling bearing, including a plurality of rolling elements (36a).

6. The helmet (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein only the first displacement member (30) is, or comprises at least, said bearing (36), and the second displacement member (40) is part of a connecting rod (60), pivoted or connected in a rotoidal manner on a first side, to said cap (10) and configured for sliding, on a second side, in said second displacement seat (41).

7. The helmet (100) according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 5, wherein both the first displacement member (30) is, or includes at least, said bearing (36) and said second displacement member (40) is, or at least includes, said bearing (136).

8. The helmet (100) according to any of the preceding claims in combination with claim 6, wherein the first displacement member (30) comprises the pin body, said pin body of the first displacement member (30) being a first pin body (35) on which said bearing (36) is mounted, and the second displacement member (40) includes a pin body (45), said pin body of the second displacement member (40) being a second pin body (45), and wherein said connection member (50) is a connecting rod connected with clearance to the first pin body (35) of said first displacement member (30) and connected to the second pin body (45) of said second displacement member (40) in such a way as to command or control the displacement of said first displacement member (30) in said first displacement seat (31).

9. The helmet (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said displacement of the second displacement member (40) is a first displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41) and said displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) is a first displacement of said first displacement member (30), and a transfer ofsaid visor (20) from said lowered position to an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position corresponds to said first displacement of the second displacement member (40) and to said first displacement of said first displacement member (30), and wherein a second displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said intermediate position to said raised position corresponds to a second displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41), and wherein a third displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said raised position to the intermediate position corresponds to a third displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat, and wherein a fourth displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said intermediate position to said lowered position corresponds to a fourth displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41).

10. The helmet (100) according to the previous claim, wherein said first displacement of the second displacement member (40) is a displacement in a first displacement direction from a start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41) to an end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41); said second displacement of the second displacement member (40) is a displacement in a displacement direction opposite to the first displacement direction from the end-of- stroke position in the second displacement seat (41) to the start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41); said third displacement of the second displacement member (40) is a displacement in a first displacement direction from the start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41) to the end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41); said fourth displacement of the second displacement member (40) is a displacement in a displacement direction opposite to the first displacement direction from the end-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41) to the start of stroke position in the second displacement seat (41).

11. The helmet (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said second displacement seat (41) is shaped like an arc or according to a curved trajectory.

12. The helmet (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said first displacement seat (31) is "II" shaped and extends between a first end (31a) and a second end (31b), and wherein a position of said first displacement member (30) in said first end (31a) of the first displacement seat (31) corresponds to said lowered position of the visor (20), and wherein a position of said first displacement member (30) in said second end (31b) of the first displacement seat (31) corresponds to said raised position of the visor (20).

13. The helmet (100) according to the previous claim, wherein said first “II” shaped displacement seat (31) includes a bottom, "II" shaped intermediate section (31c) interposed between said first end (31a) and said second end (31b), wherein a position of said first displacement member (30) in said intermediate section (31c) corresponds to an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position of said visor (20).

14. The helmet (100) according to claim 13 in combination with claim 10, wherein said second displacement seat (41) extends between a first limit (41a), corresponding to said start-of-stroke position of said second displacement member (40), and a second limit (41b), corresponding to said end-of-stroke position of said second displacement member (40), wherein a position of said second displacement member (40) in said first limit (41a) of the second displacement seat (41) corresponds alternatively to said position of said first displacement member (30) in said first end (31a) of the first displacement seat (31) or to said position of said first displacement member (30) in said second end (31b) of the first displacement seat (31), and wherein a position of said second displacement member (40) in said second limit (41b) of the second displacement seat (41) corresponds to said position of said first displacement member (30) in said bottom, "II" shaped intermediate section (31c) of the first displacement seat (31).

15. The helmet (100) according to any of the previous claims in combination with claim 10 and claim 13, wherein said second displacement member (40) is associated with said cap (10) by means of a spring member (70) configured to assume a rest condition and a loaded condition, wherein said rest condition of the spring member (70) corresponds to said position of said second displacement member (40) in said start-of-stroke position in the second displacement seat (41), and wherein said loaded condition of the spring member (70) corresponds to said position of said seconddisplacement member (40) in said end position of the second displacement seat (41).

16. The helmet (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said connecting member (50) is a rigid connecting member.

17. A method for opening and / or closing the visor (20) of a helmet (100), wherein said visor (20) is configured to assume a lowered position, a raised position, and an intermediate position between said lowered position and said raised position, and wherein said helmet (100) includes a cap (10) and a handling assembly comprising a first displacement member (30) and a second displacement member (40) connected by a connection member (50), wherein said method involves the following steps:- a first displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41) and a first displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said lowered position to said intermediate position,- a second displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41) and a second displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said intermediate position to said raised position,- a third displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41) and a third displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said raised position to the intermediate position,- a fourth displacement of the second displacement member (40) along said second displacement seat (41) and a fourth displacement of said first displacement member (30) along said first displacement seat (31) and a transfer of said visor (20) from said intermediate position and said position, and wherein said first displacement member(30) is, or includes at least, a bearing (36) that slides along said first displacement seat(31) and / or the second displacement member (40) is, or includes at least, a respective bearing (136) that slides along second displacement seat (41).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said second displacement member (40) is joined to said cap by means of a spring member (70) configured to assume a rest condition and a loaded condition, wherein:- when said second displacement member (40) carries out said first displacement, said spring member (70) passes from the rest condition to the loadedcondition,- subsequently said spring member (70) is discharged from the loaded condition to the rest condition facilitating said second displacement of the second displacement member (40), - when said second displacement member (40) carries out said third displacement, said spring member (70) passes from the rest condition to the loaded condition,- subsequently said spring member (70) is discharged from the loaded condition to the rest condition facilitating said fourth displacement of the second displacement member (40).

19. The method according to claims 17 or 18, which is performed on a helmet according to any one of the preceding claims from 1 to 16.

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