CN-121987000-A - Helmet

Abstract

The present invention relates to helmets. Helmets for riders of on-road or off-road vehicles protect the rider's head. The helmet may also include various features for enhancing the riding experience. For example, the helmet may include a visor configured to be able to slide and rotate relative to the shell of the helmet. The helmet may further include a chin bar that is capable of sliding and rotating relative to the shell. Additionally, the helmet may include a visor that provides tool-less adjustment of the position of the visor relative to the shell. The internal structure provides a multi-layer system in which at least one layer is an strike layer.

Inventors

• Alex J. Notting
• Qing H. Li
• Emerson L. Holtman
• Archie B. Ames
• Jason R. Plummer
• Ryan T. Harris
• Justin O. Summers
• Robert H. Kaiseli

Assignees

• 北极星工业有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20250709

Priority Date

20241105

Claims (20)

1. 1. A helmet, comprising: a helmet shell enclosing a cavity configured to receive a head of an operator, the helmet shell comprising: An outer surface; A front opening extending through the outer surface, and A mask holder recessed from the outer surface and extending around the front opening, and A visor rotatably coupled with the helmet shell, the visor having a plurality of configurations including at least a closed configuration and an open configuration: in the closed configuration, the mask is in a closed position covering the front opening and the mask is seated within the mask holder, and In the open configuration, the mask is in an open position by the mask being displaced forward and rotated relative to the closed position, the mask being removed from the mask holder, and at least a portion of the front opening being uncovered.
2. 2. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a slidable pivot mechanism, the slidable pivot mechanism rotatably and translatably couples the visor with the helmet shell, the slidable pivot mechanism comprising: A visor shuttle translatably coupled with the helmet shell, the visor shuttle including a bearing configured to receive at least one pivot fitting, the bearing and the at least one pivot fitting allowing rotation of the visor, and Wherein the visor shuttle allows translational movement of each of the bearing, the at least one pivot fitting, and the visor relative to the helmet shell.
3. 3. The helmet of claim 2, wherein the slidable pivot mechanism comprises a biasing element configured to bias the visor toward the visor bracket in the closed configuration.
4. 4. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a stopper rail and a stopper, the stopper rail having one or more stopper recesses; One of the stop track or the stop is coupled with the helmet shell; The other of the stop or the stop track is coupled to the mask, and Wherein the stop is biased to engage along the stop track and seat within at least one of the one or more stop recesses.
5. 5. The helmet of claim 4, comprising a visor shuttle translatably coupled with the helmet shell and rotatably coupled with the visor, wherein the visor shuttle is configured to bias the visor and the stop toward the stop track.
6. 6. The helmet of claim 4, wherein the closed position comprises a fully closed position and the open position comprises a fully open position, the stopper rail comprises a first stopper bracket, and the first stopper bracket comprises: a socket profile deeper than a recess profile of the one or more stopper recesses, and A tapered surface extending from the first stopper bracket toward a remainder of the stopper rail, the tapered surface configured to bias the stopper toward the remainder of the stopper rail as the mask rotates from at least one of the fully closed position or the fully open position.
7. 7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the visor seated within the visor mount is flush with the outer surface of the helmet shell.
8. 8. The helmet of claim 7, wherein the visor flush with the outer surface of the helmet shell is flush with a forehead edge of the helmet shell.
9. 9. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a chin bar rotatably coupled with the helmet shell, the chin bar having a plurality of configurations including at least a closed chin bar configuration and an open chin bar configuration: in the closed chin bar configuration, the chin bar is in a downward position, and In the open chin bar configuration, the chin bar rotates relative to the downward position with the chin bar displaced forward.
10. 10. The helmet of claim 9, comprising a guide member translatably received along a guide track; one of the guide member or the guide rail is coupled with the chin bar; The other of the guide track or the guide member is coupled with the helmet shell; Wherein in the closed chin bar configuration the guide member sits within a recessed branch of the guide rail and in the open chin bar configuration the guide member moves away from the recessed branch.
11. 11. A helmet, comprising: a helmet shell enclosing a cavity configured to receive a head of an operator, the helmet shell comprising: An outer surface, and A front opening extending through the outer surface, and A mask having at least one pivot fitting; A slidable type pivoting mechanism is provided, which comprises a plurality of pivoting members, the slidable pivot mechanism rotatably and translatably couples the visor with the helmet shell, the slidable pivoting mechanism includes: A visor shuttle translatably coupled with the helmet shell, the visor shuttle including a bearing configured to receive the at least one pivot fitting, the bearing and the at least one pivot fitting allowing the visor to rotate relative to the helmet shell and the visor shuttle, and Wherein the visor shuttle allows translational movement of each of the bearing, the at least one pivot fitting, and the visor relative to the helmet shell.
12. 12. The helmet of claim 11, wherein the slidable pivot mechanism comprises a biasing element configured to bias the visor toward the helmet shell.
13. 13. The helmet of claim 11, comprising a stopper rail and a stopper, the stopper rail having one or more stopper recesses; One of the stop track or the stop is coupled with the helmet shell; The other of the stop or the stop track is coupled to the mask, and Wherein the stop is biased to engage and seat along the stop track within at least one of the one or more stop recesses, and the seating of the stop within the at least one stop recess prevents rotation of the mask.
14. 14. The helmet of claim 13, wherein the visor shuttle is configured to bias the visor and the stop toward the stop track.
15. 15. The helmet of claim 13, wherein the face shield comprises a fully closed position and a fully open position, and the stopper rail comprises a first stopper bracket, and the first stopper bracket comprises: a socket profile deeper than a recess profile of the one or more stopper recesses, and A tapered surface extending from the first stopper bracket toward a remainder of the stopper rail, the tapered surface configured to bias the stopper toward the remainder of the stopper rail as the mask rotates from at least one of the fully closed position or the fully open position.
16. 16. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the helmet shell comprises a visor receptacle, the visor is seated within the visor receptacle in a fully closed position, and the visor is flush with the outer surface of the helmet shell.
17. 17. The helmet of claim 1, comprising a visor rotatably coupled with the helmet shell, the visor comprising: A bill body; An arm extending from the visor body to a pivot joint rotatably coupling the visor to the helmet, and An attachment end extending from the visor body toward a visor adjustment track of the helmet shell, the attachment end including a head slidably received in the adjustment track, wherein the head and the visor adjustment track translatably couple the attachment end with the helmet shell.
18. 18. The helmet of claim 17, wherein the head comprises a coupled configuration and an uncoupled configuration: In the coupled configuration, the head is received in the bill adjustment track and the head is translatable along the adjustment track, and In the uncoupled configuration, the head is transferred through a mounting aperture of the visor adjustment rail and the attachment end is uncoupled from the visor adjustment rail.
19. 19. The helmet of claim 17, wherein the pivot joint comprises a rotatable bayonet fitting, the bayonet fitting is configured to allow manual coupling and decoupling of the pivoting visor with the helmet.
20. 20. The helmet of claim 11, wherein the at least one pivot fitting comprises a rotatable bayonet fitting configured to allow manual coupling and decoupling of the visor with the helmet.

Description

Helmet Cross Reference to Related Applications The present application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 63/716,482 filed 11/2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to helmets, and more particularly to helmets for use with recreational vehicles. Background Riders of recreational road vehicles, such as motorcycles, or off-road vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles, often wear helmets to protect the rider's head. Helmets may also include various functions and features to improve the overall riding experience of the rider. Disclosure of Invention The inventors have recognized that, among other things, the problem to be solved may include maintaining helmet features, such as a visor, etc., in a static position while allowing for manual manipulation of these features to one or more auxiliary positions without tools. Example helmets include masks that are pivoted to allow ventilation or to prevent the effects of wind, particulate matter (such as sand, direct rain, snow, insects, and the like blowing particulate matter), and the like. For example, in some helmets, the mask is selectively opened or closed by an operator, such as by manual manipulation. In some example helmets, wind loads, dynamic vehicle movements (e.g., over rough terrain), etc., can cause the manually steerable visor to unexpectedly snap closed during operation. Conversely, wind loads or rough terrain may cause the mask to unexpectedly snap open in the event of wind loads interacting with the mask. In other examples, the helmet includes one or more features, such as a visor (also referred to as a visor), a face shield, a chin bar, etc., that can be adjusted with a tool. For example, screws, fasteners, or the like are adjusted using a screwdriver, allen wrench, or a manufacturer-specified tool to hold the feature in place. These features are tightened or locked in place to reduce unpredictable motion (e.g., due to wind loads, shock, cornering). However, these helmets prevent adjustment, for example, the adjustment required without tools or tools that are not readily available. The present subject matter can help provide solutions to these problems by manually manipulable (tool-less) helmets having one or more dynamically adjustable features that can be easily adjusted and that at the same time remain in a designated position even in the event of disturbances caused by wind loads, dynamic environments (e.g., shock, turns, or the like during riding), etc. As described herein, the face mask, chin bar, visor, etc. of the example helmet are manually operable dynamically adjustable features. For example, an operator, rider, or the like adjusts the feature by manually manipulating the one or more dynamically adjustable features. Example helmets include locking systems that allow manual manipulation while enhancing anchoring of adjustable features, such as in a static position when subjected to wind loads, shock, cornering, and the like. The present inventors have also recognized that the problems to be solved may include improving the shock absorbing capability of the helmet for each of low and high speed impacts, while the helmet comfortably fits the head of the user and provides a relatively compact and streamlined shape. Example helmets are made from a variety of materials including composite materials that provide some shock absorbing capability while conforming comfortably to the head. However, in these examples, helmets typically trade-off between preventing low-speed impacts (e.g., 20mph or less) versus high-speed impacts (e.g., greater than 20 mph). For example, expanded Polystyrene (EPS) provides protection against low speed impacts, while providing relatively less protection against high speed impacts. Conversely, other materials, such as arrays of deformable tubes, flexible elastomers, or the like, provide protection against high speed impacts, while providing relatively less protection against low speed impacts. The present subject matter can help provide solutions to these problems by helmets having stacked substrates of component layers that provide low speed impact shock absorbing capability and high speed impact shock absorbing capability. Examples of helmets described herein include an inner shell and an outer shell (e.g., made of a polymer such as EPS) to provide protection against low speed impacts and to provide a static surface to support the rest of the helmet. The stacked substrate also includes an array of flexible tubes interposed (e.g., sandwiched, stacked, etc.) between the inner and outer shells. The flexible tube array is made up of an array of polymeric cylinders that are interconnected along their length (e.g., similar to a honeycomb), such as by thermal bonding, thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, etc. The flexible tube array is configured to deflect,