| Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cups -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cupsUSPTO Application #: 20070261153Title: Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cups Abstract: A helmet includes a shell with an impact resistant exterior surface formed by an upper shell and a rear shell. The upper shell is shaped to protect a top portion of a wearer's head, the rear shell shaped to protect an occipital portion of the wearer's head. A headset assembly, attached to the shell, includes dual ear cups rotatable about an axis that is above the wearer's ears when the helmet is worn. The ear cups have at least the following positions: an extended position to cover the wearer's ears, and a retracted position substantially abutting both upper and rear shell to the rear of the wearer's ears. The ear cups are shaped so that they form a surface substantially flush with the exterior surface while the ear cups are in the retracted position. (end of abstract) Agent: Glenn Patent Group - Menlo Park, CA, US Inventors: Robert W. Wise, Peter Muller USPTO Applicaton #: 20070261153 - Class: 002423000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's Head, And Ears The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070261153. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to safety helmets. More particularly, the invention concerns a helmet with ear cups that pivot into a position that is flush with the helmet, generally above and behind the wearer's ears. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Today, there is a vast array of safety equipment available to workers. Steel-toed boots protect the feet from heavy weights or impact. Fire and heat resistant clothing helps protect the body against flame. Eye goggles and face shields ward off debris and bright lights to protect the eyes. [0005] Probably one of the most common items of safety equipment is a helmet or "hard hat." These are frequently used by construction workers, building inspectors, shipbuilders, factory workers, and others. However, conventional hard hats typically leave the wearer's ears exposed and vulnerable to impact damage. Of course, some people use ear plugs to protect their hearing, but this still leaves their ears unprotected from possible impact. Other people might use aftermarket ear muffs to protect against hearing loss, and this might provide some incidental protection against impact injury to the ears. However, aftermarket ear muffs can be difficult to wear with a conventional hard hat. There are some products with integrated hard hat and ear muffs, but these typically protrude from the helmet in some direction, and necessitate an irregular outer surface of the helmet. Therefore, they are vulnerable to snagging on wiring, insulation, vehicle interior, brush, and other features of the wearer's work environment. [0006] Thus, when selecting a safety helmet and ear protection there are many different tradeoffs. Further complicating this, certain users might wish to listen to audio signals while using a safety helmet. Yet, finding an audio system that is compatible with the helmet and ear protection can be difficult or impossible. [0007] Consequently, known safety helmets are not completely adequate for some applications due to certain unsolved problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] A helmet includes a shell with an impact resistant exterior surface formed by an upper shell and a rear shell. The upper shell is shaped to protect a top portion of a wearer's head, the rear shell shaped to protect an occipital portion of the wearer's head. A headset assembly, attached to the shell, includes dual ear cups rotatable about an axis that is above the wearer's ears when the helmet is worn. The ear cups have at least the following positions: an extended position to cover the wearer's ears, and a retracted position substantially abutting both upper and rear shell aft of the wearer's ears. The ear cups are shaped so that they form a surface substantially flush with the exterior surface while the ear cups are in the retracted position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a right side plan view of a safety helmet. [0010] FIG. 2 is a left side plan view of the safety helmet. [0011] FIGS. 3A-3B are a rear views of the safety helmet. [0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded top perspective view of the safety helmet. [0013] FIG. 5A is a partial, top perspective view of the safety helmet. [0014] FIG. 5B is a partial, bottom oblique view of the safety helmet. [0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a headband assembly. [0016] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a headset assembly. [0017] FIGS. 8A-8B are perspective views of an eye shield guide and eye shield guide, respectively. [0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rear shell and lens. [0019] FIG. 10 is an underside perspective view of an electronics module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0020] The nature, objectives, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings. Continue reading... Full patent description for Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cups Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cups 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 Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cups or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Helmet ear loop Next Patent Application: Mask-form goggles, particularly for sporting use Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Protective helmet with flush pivoting ear cups patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.21934 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
||
