WO2009019667A1

WO2009019667A1 - Coating for helmet and respective helmet

Info

Publication number: WO2009019667A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/053195
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea Righetti
Original assignee: Profilo Design Srl
Current assignee: Profilo Design Srl
Priority date: 2007-08-09
Filing date: 2008-08-08
Publication date: 2009-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-09
Also published as: EP2180801A1; ITTO20070596A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns a coating for a cap (12) of a helmet (10), wherein the coating comprises a layer (14) of resilient material having a first surface (14a) arranged to be secured to the cap (12) and a second surface (14b) opposite the first surface (14a), and a coating layer (15), secured to the second surface (14b) of the layer (14) of resilient material. Advantageously, the invention provides an improved resistance to shocks, even of fortuitous nature, and allows a better utilisation sensation. The invention also concerns the coated helmet (10) and the method of manufacturing it.

Description

TRANSLATION (RULE 12.3)

COATING FOR HELMET AND RESPECTIVE HELMET

Technical field

The present invention generally concerns a coating for helmet, a coated helmet and a method of manufacturing the coated helmet

More particularly, the present invention concerns a coating for a motorcyclist helmet, the respective coated helmet and the method of manufacturing the coated helmet Prior art

Helmets, for instance motorcyclist helmets, in general, and especially helmets comprising an external coating, are well known

For instance, Patent Application US 2005/0028253A1 discloses a protective helmet compπsing an internal shell or cap of rigid material, such as KEVLAR, and an external shell secured to the internal shell

The external shell of the known helmet is rigid, it is moulded from plastic or polymeric mateπal and it has an outer shape corresponding to that of a conventional hat Substantially, the known coated helmet appears as a conventional hat to an observer

A first problem with such kind of helmet is that the coating is πgid and formed in advance and it cannot be adapted to changes in the helmet size Moreover, the known coating, being rigid, affords only a limited improvement in the safety capability of the helmet

Another problem with such kind of helmet is that, even though its shape corresponds with that of a conventional hat, it does not provide the user with a feeling, to the touch, corresponding to the shape, but it has characteristics of stiffness and hardness that do not correspond to the user's expectations Helmets, in particular motorcyclist helmets, where the cap is coated, wholly or in part, by a fabric directly glued to the cap are also known

A known helmet of such kind is for instance helmet model "Borsahno" produced by company New Max S r 1

A first problem with such kind of helmet is that the fabric, being directly in contact with a rigid surface, is subject to damages such as tears, abrasions etc in case of fortuitous impacts with objects

Another problem with such kind of helmet is that the provision of the fabric only has aesthetic functions and it does not contπbute to increasing, for instance, the helmet safety characteristics By summarising, the Applicant has realised that the prior art teaches applying external coatings to helmets, but it does not teach providing the helmets with external coatings that improve on the one hand the helmet capabilities in terms of safety and/or protection against fortuitous impacts, while being at the same time easily adaptable to different helmet sizes and providing the helmet user with further utilisation sensations besides those visually perceived. Description of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a helmet coating that solves the above problems of the prior art. The object is achieved by the helmet coating and the coated helmet having the features set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention also concerns a method of manufacturing a coated helmet.

The claims are an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in respect of the invention. In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the coating for a helmet cap includes a layer of resilient material having a first surface arranged to be secured to the helmet cap, and a second surface secured to an external coating layer.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the layer of resilient material is made of polyurethane foams. In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the coating layer is made of one or more materials chosen out of the group comprising natural and/or synthetic fabric, natural and/or synthetic skin, fabric and/or skin patches. Brief description of the Figures

The above and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, made by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which elements denoted by a same or similar reference numeral are components having the same or similar functions and construction, and in which:

- Fig. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a coating for helmet cap in which the different components are kept separated;

- Fig. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of an assembled coating for helmet cap; and

- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a coated helmet according to the invention. Description of preferred embodiments

Referring to Fig. 1, a coated helmet 10 according to the present invention includes at least one rigid cap 12, e.g. the cap of a motorcyclist helmet, a layer 14 of resilient material having a first surface 14a secured, e.g. glued, to a surface 12a of cap 12, in particular an external surface, and a coating layer 15, having an internal surface 15a in turn secured, e.g. glued, to a second surface 14b of resilient material 14 and an exposed external surface 15b.

In the preferred embodiment, layer 14 of resilient material and coating layer 15 form coating 45 of cap 12 of helmet 10.

Rigid cap 12, e.g. made of composite fibres of carbon, glass etc., may internally have a padding 21 (Fig. 3), of known type, equipped with possible accessories corresponding, for instance, to those of a conventional motorcyclist helmet.

As it can be readily appreciated by a skilled in the art, external surface 12a (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3) of cap 12 can be a finished or a rough surface of a helmet cap.

The layer (sheet) of resilient material 14 is preferably made of soft polyurethane foams, in particular foams of known type usually employed for making paddings. Preferably, for manufacturing coated helmet 10 according to the invention, a polyurethane layer/sheet 1 to 10 mm thick is used, having an adhesive film of known type on a first surface 14a or on first and second surfaces 14a and 14b, respectively.

Of course, in other embodiments, polyurethane foams may be replaced by other materials having resiliency characteristics similar to polyurethane and being suitable e.g. for making paddings.

Coating layer 15 is made for instance of natural or synthetic fabrics or natural or synthetic skins. Coating layer 15 can also be made of fabric or skin patches 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e, as shown in Fig. 3, sewed together along their edges.

Generally speaking, as it can be readily appreciated by a skilled in the art, coating layer 15 can be made of any material, preferably a material having a limited thickness and a high degree of adaptability.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, in which for instance sheet 14 has an adhesive film on both the first and second surfaces 14a and 14b, respectively, the method of manufacturing helmet 10 comprises the following steps: - applying a layer/sheet of resilient material 14 onto cap 12;

- securing sheet 14 to cap 12, by means of the adhesive layer provided on the first surface (internal surface) 14a of sheet 14;

- possibly trimming sheet 14 in correspondence of the cap edges or of predetermined zones, unless the sheet size and shape already match the desired ones; - applying coating layer (fabric) 15 to sheet 14 so that fabric surface 15b adheres to external surface 14b of sheet 14;

- securing fabric 15 to sheet 14 by means of the adhesive layer provided on external surface 14b of sheet 14; - cutting fabric 15 in correspondence of the cap edges so as to provide an excess band to be folded over inside the cap and glued, for instance by using a water-based glue; such step could also include making one or more seams or applying a band to be folded over having one or more seams in correspondence of the edges of cap 12; as it can be readily appreciated by a skilled in the art, the seam or the band to be folded over can facilitate the step of folding over the fabric inside the cap.

In accordance with other embodiments, for instance when no adhesive layer is provided on one or both surfaces 14a and/orl4b, respectively, of sheet 14, the steps of applying and securing the sheet to cap 12 are replaced by the steps of:

- applying a glue to cap 12, for instance a water-based glue; such as glue "aquagum/im" of company Frabo;

- gluing sheet 14 to surface 12a of cap 12; and/or the step of applying fabric 15 to sheet 14 is replaced by the following steps:

- applying a glue; for instance a water-based glue; of the same type as that mentioned above, to surface 14b of sheet 14; - gluing fabric 15 by making surface 15b of fabric 15 adhere to external surface 14b of sheet 14.

In further embodiments, the step of cutting fabric 15 in correspondence of the cap edges so as to provide an excess band to be folded over is replaced by the steps of:

- cutting to the desired size and hemming fabric 15; - applying and securing sheet 14 to cap 12;

- covering cap 12 coated by sheet 14 with fabric 15 and gluing the edge of fabric 15 to the edge of cap 12, by using for instance a water-based glue.

In yet further embodiments, the steps of applying and securing sheet 14 to cap 12 are for instance replaced by the steps of: - securing fabric 15 to sheet 14, for instance by gluing and/or sewing fabric 15 to sheet 14 so as to form coating 45;

- applying and securing coating 45 to the cap by gluing or by using an adhesive film provided, for instance, on surface 14a of sheet 14.

In accordance with such embodiment it is thus possible, for instance, to manufacture coating 45 independently of cap 12 or helmet 10 and to apply the complete coating 45, obtained by joining sheet 14 with fabric 15, to cap 12 and/or helmet 10.

The helmet coating described above has the clear advantage that it is not damaged by small entity impacts. Indeed, the coating according to the invention, comprising a layer of a material having a certain resiliency, is capable of absorbing shocks caused by fortuitous events such as helmet fall from a moving vehicle, impact against objects of various kinds during transportation, etc.

Advantageously, moreover, the helmet coating described above also allows improving the safety afforded by the helmet, by increasing its capacity of absorbing shocks, also upon a fall or an accident of the wearer.

Lastly, helmet coating 45 described above has the further advantage that coating layer 15 secured to layer 14 of resilient material maintains the characteristics typical of the material it is made of. In particular, layer 14 of resilient material described above ensures that coating layer 15, whether it is made of natural or synthetic material, maintains its characteristics of softness, adaptability, resiliency etc. Therefore, the person using the coated helmet according to the invention has a tactile and visual perception similar to that attainable by handling the material coating layer 15 is made of.

Obvious modifications or variants can be made to the above description in respect of sizes, shapes, materials and components, as well as in respect of the details of the illustrated construction and the operating method, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A coating for a cap ( 12) of a helmet (10), characterised by:

- a layer (14) of resilient material, having a first surface (14a) arranged to be secured to the cap (12) and a second surface (14b) on the opposite side of the first surface (14a); - a coating layer (15), secured to said second surface (14b) of said layer (14) of resilient material.

2. The coating for a cap (12) of a helmet (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said layer (14) of resilient material is made of polyurethane foams.

3. The coating for a cap (12) of a helmet (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said layer (14) of resilient material is 1 to 10 mm thick.

4. The coating for a cap (12) of a helmet (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said layer (14) of resilient material has an adhesive film on said first surface (14a) and/or said second surface (14b).

5. The coating for a cap (12) of a helmet (10) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said coating layer (15) is made of one or more materials chosen out of the group comprising:

- natural and/or synthetic fabric;

- natural and/or synthetic skin;

- fabric and/or skin patches.

6. The coating for a cap (12) of a helmet (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to

5, characterised in that said coating layer (15) includes at least one seam or band to be folded over and configured to conform to a predetermined edge of a cap (12) of a helmet (10).

7. A helmet, in particular a motorcyclist helmet, including at least one cap (12) of rigid material, characterised in that it has a coating for helmet cap as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 secured externally of the cap (12).

8. The helmet as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that it internally has a helmet padding (21).

9. A method of manufacturing a helmet (10) including at least one rigid cap (12), the method being characterised in that it comprises the steps of:

- applying and securing a coating layer (15) on a first surface (14b) of a layer (14) of resilient material;

- applying and securing externally of said cap (12) a second surface (14a) of said layer (14) of resilient material, opposite the first surface (14b).

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said step of applying and securing a coating layer (15) on a first surface (14b) of a layer (14) of resilient material comprises employing an adhesive film provided on said first surface (14b) of said layer (14) of resilient material.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that said step of applying and securing a second surface (14a) of said layer (14) of resilient material externally of said cap (12) comprises employing an adhesive film provided on said second surface (14a) of said layer (14) of resilient material.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said step of applying and securing a coating layer (15) on a first surface (14b) of a layer (14) of resilient material comprises applying a layer of glue on said first surface of said layer (14) of resilient material.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 or 12, characterised in that said step of applying and securing a second surface (14a) of said layer (14) of resilient material externally of said cap (12) comprises applying a layer of glue on said second surface of said layer (14) of resilient material.

14. The method as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, characterised in that said step of applying and securing a coating layer (15) further comprises making at least one seam or band to be folded over in correspondence of the edge of the cap (12) of a helmet (10).