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HelmetRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's Head, Including Helmet-retention MeansHelmet description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060130219, Helmet. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims the benefit of United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB0427999.8 filed Dec. 21, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to helmets and in particular to, but not exclusively to, horse riding helmets. BACKGROUND [0003] Horse riding helmets have long been employed to lessen the damage caused by impacts to the heads of horse riders. Part of a known type of riding helmet is shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b; FIG. 1a shows the helmet when one half of a strap hangs loose and FIG. 1b shows the helmet when the strap is fastened under the chin of a wearer. [0004] The helmet shown has a hard outer shell 1 that acts as a shield and a soft inner lining 3 that acts as a cushion. The lining 3 has two effects, the first is to improve the comfort of a user wearing the helmet and the second is to help reduce the force transmitted to the wearer from any impacts to the outer shell 1. [0005] The helmet is fitted with a strap 9 that when fastened holds the helmet in place, preventing the helmet from becoming dislodged. The strap 9 is formed in two halves 11, the strap halves 11 each being attached to opposite sides of the outer shell 1. The two strap halves 11 are able to meet under the chin of a wearer 7, where they can be secured to one another. Each strap half is anchored securely to the outer shell 1 by a rivet 10. [0006] Given that the outer shell 1 is spaced from the side of the wearer's head by edge 8 of the inner lining 3 and the strap 9 is secured to the inner surface 5 of the outer shell 1, when fastened the strap 9 does not lie flat against the face of the wearer 7. Thus, when the strap 9 is fastened, two triangular spaces 12 are defined between the face of the wearer 7, the strap 9 and the lower edge 8 of the lining 3. This represents a hazard as a tree branch, for example, could become entangled with the helmet, if the branch passed through one of the triangular spaces 12. If a tree branch did become entangled, the wearer would be exposed to the risk of severe injury. [0007] The above problem has been appreciated in the past and has been addressed by producing helmets in which the strap extends from the points of attachment on the outer shell and through the lining, such that the strap extends around the wearer's head from the inner side of the lower edge of the lining. The strap thereby lies flat adjacent to the wearer's face, reducing the risk of the strap becoming hooked on, for example, a tree branch. Unfortunately, such an arrangement is relatively complicated to manufacture, as the strap cannot be attached to the outer shell before addition of the lining. [0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved helmet. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In a first aspect, one embodiment of the present invention provides a helmet for protecting the head of a wearer comprising: a helmet body comprising an outer shell; a strap for coupling the helmet to the head, the strap being secured to the helmet body; a piece of material coupled to the helmet body proximate an edge surface of the helmet body and arranged to lie between the helmet body and the head of the wearer; and means for attaching a portion of the strap to the piece of material at an attachment point distant from the edge surface, such that the strap adjacent the surface edge is pulled towards the head of the wearer; wherein the piece of material is flexible, thereby allowing the attachment point to move relative to the helmet body. [0010] In yet other embodiments, the ability of the attachment point to move minimizes or prevents undue stress being placed on the attaching means as the straps are moved, thus decreasing the likelihood of the attaching means being damaged and/or released from the attachment point. Furthermore, the biasing effect the attaching means has on the strap also reduces the size of the gap between strap, the face of the wearer and the edge of the helmet and thus improves the safety of the helmet. [0011] In one embodiment, the attaching means may comprise a tab extending from the strap. [0012] In one embodiment, the attachment point may be separated from the head of the wearer by at least the piece of material. [0013] In one embodiment, the attachment point may be located between the piece of material and the helmet body. [0014] In one embodiment, the outer shell may define an inwardly facing surface extending to an edge of the shell, and the helmet body may further comprise a lining defining an outer surface facing the inwardly facing surface of the shell, and inner surface which in use faces the head of a person wearing the helmet, and an edge surface extending between the inner and outer surfaces of the lining adjacent to the edge of the shell. [0015] In one embodiment, the piece of material may extend between the shell and the lining. [0016] In one embodiment, the piece of material may be coupled to the helmet body by a flexible hinge. [0017] In one embodiment, the piece of material may form a headband. [0018] In one embodiment, the attaching means may extend through an aperture on the piece of material [0019] In one embodiment, the attaching means may be arranged for releasably attaching the portion of the strap to the piece of material. [0020] In one embodiment, the said attaching means may be arranged to release under a load of 15 kg. It may be arranged to release under a lower load e.g. a load of 7 kg or less. Continue reading about Helmet... Full patent description for Helmet Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Helmet patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Helmet or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sock Next Patent Application: Baby carrier cover system Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Helmet patent info. 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