| Semi-rigid protective helmet -> Monitor Keywords |
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Semi-rigid protective helmetRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's HeadSemi-rigid protective helmet description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070157370, Semi-rigid protective helmet. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a protective helmet comprising a deformable internal foam liner, a plurality of rigid external shell segments in the form of scales arranged on the foam liner so as to form at least one crown segment, at least one occipital segment and a plurality of transverse side segments, and joining means made of flexible material performing joining between the segments. STATE OF THE ART [0002] Numerous sports or leisure activities require the use of a protective helmet. Generally, the helmet is relatively heavy, bulky, with a monoblock external shell to guarantee protection and safety to the detriment of the aesthetic appearance and of the comfort sought for by the user. [0003] For this purpose, the document WO-A1-9806285 describes a protective helmet that can be adjusted to the morphology of the user's head to guarantee both protection, safety and comfort. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the helmet 1 comprises an internal layer 3 formed by a shock-absorbing element 2 and a plurality of structures 3a to 3g fixed onto the shock-absorbing element 2 and separated into several regular parts. The helmet 1 also comprises an external layer 4 formed by a plurality of longitudinal panels 4a to 4g of substantially identical shape and spaced apart longitudinally so to fit between the structures 3a to 3g. The panels 4a to 4g are all joined by their top edge to a top crown 5. The structures 3a to 3g are joined to the panels 4a to 4g by means of flexible joining means 6, made of flexible elastic material (FIG. 2). These flexible means 6 enable the structures 3a to 3g to be moved apart from one another and to vary the size of the helmet 1 when the helmet 1 is fitted on the user's head. This configuration of the helmet 1 thus enables the user to adjust the size of the helmet 1 to the morphology of his/her head. [0004] Protection and safety are ensured by the structures 3a to 3g and the panels 4a to 4g, made of relatively rigid materials. Adjustment to the morphology of the user's head is achieved by the flexible joining means 6, formed by pieces of flexible elastic textile joining the structures 3a to 3g to the panels 4a to 4g. [0005] Deformation of the helmet 1 is however not optimum. The panels 4a to 4g are in fact all longitudinal (FIG. 1). Deformation thereof is therefore regular over the whole circumference of the helmet 1. This deformation is stressed by the flexible joining means 6, which generate a flexible return phenomenon of the panels 4a to 4g on the structures 3a to 3g. The flexible joining means 6 urge the panels 4a to 4g to their rest position and cause a compression effect at the level of the head. The user is then liable to suffer from headaches after prolonged use of the helmet 1. Adjustment to the morphology of the head is therefore not optimum. Comfort also remains problematic as the shock-absorbing element 2 is joined to the panels 4a to 4g by means of the structures 3a to 3g. The relative deformations of the panels 4a to 4g and of the structures 3a to 3g are therefore dependent. [0006] The structure of this helmet 1 generates, in addition, problems of space occupation, in particular in storage mode, as the panels 4a to 4g, joined to the top crown 5, are rigid and can hardly be folded. [0007] Moreover, the documents DE 199 36 368 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,080 each describe a protective helmet having a large number of small shell segments arranged over the whole external layer of the helmet. Furthermore, in the document DE 199 36 368, the helmet comprises a system of cords inserted in its internal layer to adjust the size of the helmet according to the size of the user's head. [0008] However, the structures of these helmets prove relatively uncomfortable, and the adjustment system described by the document DE 199 36 368 is not efficient and is too complex to implement. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0009] The object of the invention is to remedy these shortcomings and to provide a protective helmet able to be adjusted to different head morphologies, and enabling the comfort and protection of a user to be optimized. [0010] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a helmet according to the appended claims and, more particularly, by the fact that the shell segments and the flexible joining means are joined to the foam liner, in such a way as to enable a slight sliding between the foam liner and at least a part of the shell segments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which: [0012] FIG. 1 represents a protective helmet according to the prior art. [0013] FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of the helmet according to FIG. 1. [0014] FIGS. 3 and 4 represent two perspective views of an embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention. [0015] FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically represent two exploded perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention. [0016] FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of the helmet without the cap according to FIGS. 3 and 4. [0017] FIG. 8 represents a perspective view of the foam liner of the helmet according to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. [0018] FIGS. 9 and 10 schematically represent two embodiments of a headband adjustment means of two alternative embodiments of a protective helmet according to the invention. [0019] FIG. 11 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of a part of the structure of the helmet according to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 to 10. [0020] FIG. 12 schematically represents a cross-sectional view of a part of the structure of an alternative embodiment of a helmet according to the invention. Continue reading about Semi-rigid protective helmet... Full patent description for Semi-rigid protective helmet Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Semi-rigid protective 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. 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