GB2024000A

GB2024000A - Crash-helmet visors

Info

Publication number: GB2024000A
Application number: GB7900352A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Nolan SpA
Current assignee: Nolan SpA
Priority date: 1978-06-14
Filing date: 1979-01-05
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: FR2428411B1; FR2428411A1; GB2024000B; DE7838855U1

Abstract

A device for holding a crash- helmet visor at a chosen position comprises a visor element 4 having semicircular recesses 5 on an arc centred on the visor axis 3 and a helmet element having a spring biased circular cross-section projection 8, 12 engaging a recess. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved device for adjusting the opening of crash-helmet visors The present invention relates to an improved device for adjusting the opening of crashhelmet visors, in particular of crash-helmets for motorcyclists.

As it is known, the crash-helmets encompass completely the head of the motorcyclist and are provided, at the face of the motorcyclist, with a clear visor.

This latter may be raised or lowered, by rotating said visor onto hinges applied at the sides of the crash-helmet. In many cases, however, the visor cannot be adjusted, with respect to the opening position thereof, at intermediate positions. Alternatively, as this adjusting is possible, it may be carried out only by operating screw systems connected to each pivot hinge of the visor, said screw systems pressing the hinge, as this latter has reached the desired position, thereby preventing any further movements from occurring.

Clearly this operation may be carried out only by using the two hands, which obviously represents a great and dangerous drawback.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device effective to allow for the opening of crash-helmet visors to be adjusted by using one only hand, and which requires the motorcyclist to carry out a very simple and quick operation.

This object is achieved by the device according to the present invention characterized in that it comprises, on each side face of the crash-helmet: a) an element rigid with the visor, provided with a series of adjacent recesses, having a substantially semicircular cross-section, located on a circumference arc concentric with respect to that described by the visor during the opening and closing movements thereof; and b) an element rigid with the crash-helmet body and provided with a circular cross-section projection, effective to engage, in succession, with each said recess to provide the desired opening of said visor, said element being furthermore provided with a spring acting on said projection to push said projection in such a way as to engage said projection with said recesses.

The force exercized by the spring is such as to exceed that generated by the visor weight, which would tend to disengage said projection from the recess in which it is housed.

The element rigid with the crash-helmet body may be formed by a lever, the lever arm of which is provided, from one side, with a circular cross-section projection or a small ball.

The characteristics o the invention will become more apparent from the following description, in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred exemplary and not limitative embodiments of the invention, and where: Figure 1 is a schematic top sectioned view of a crash-helmet provided with a device according to the invention, and in which the element rigid with the crash-helmet body is a lever; Figure 2 is a schematic detailed sectioned side view of the device of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a sectioned side view of the portion of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, rigid with the visor; Figure 4 is a schematic sectioned top view of a crash-helmet provided with a device according to the invention, and in which the element rigid with the crash-helmet body consists of a ball;; Figure 5 is a schematic sectioned detailed side view of the device illustrated in Fig. 4; Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a perspective and schematic view of the instant crashhelmet, the visor being respectively represented in the closing and opening positions thereof.

In the cited figures have been respectively indicated: -by the main body of the crash-helmet; -by 2 the clear visor covering the front portion of the crash-helmet; -by 3 the hinge formed by a pawl fixed to the main body of the crash-helmet 1 and about which is able of rotating the visor 2; -by 4 an element rigid with the visor 2 and extending according to a circumference arc concentric with that described by the visor 2 about the hinge 3; -by 5 the recesses provided along the outer surface of the element 4; -by 6 the element rigid with the crashhelmet 1 body provided with a circular crosssection projection.

As it is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the element 6 may consist of a layer 6, hinged at one end 7 thereof and provided, on the side surface facing towards the element 4, with a circular cross-section projection 8 effective to engage with the recesses 5.

The element 6 is maintained pressed against the element 4 by a spring 10, located in a housing 11 formed in the body of the crash-helmet 1 and pushing on the end 9 of said element 6 thereby pushing the projection 8 to engage with one of said recesses 5.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the element 6. According to the alternative embodiment, the element 6 of Figs. 1 and 2 is replaced by a small ball 1 2 mainted pressed against the element 4 by a spring 13, located in a housing 1 4 formed in the body of the crash-helmet 1.

The operation of the device according to the invention, thereibelow illustrated, is very simple.

By raising the visor 2, which raising may be obviously carried out by one only hand, the element 4 thereto connected is caused to move. This movement causes the projection 8 of the element 6, or the small ball 12, to engage, in succession, with the recesses 5 in such a way as to provide the desired opening of the visor 2.

The spring 10 or 1 3 exercises onto the end 9 of the lever 6, or respectively onto the small ball 12, a force sufficient to balance the visor weight, and allowing for the desired opening of said visor to be maintained.

In order to facilitate the movement, the corners separating the recesses 5 from one another are suitably radiused, in such a way as to facilitate the passage of the lug 8 of the lever 6, or the rolling of the small ball 1 2 from one recess 5 to the next one.

Obviously the number of the recesses 5 determine the number of possible intermediate positions for the visor 2, between the complete opening and the closing. Of course this number may be any, being limited only by practical considerations.

Changes, modifications and variations may be carried out in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for adjusting the opening of a crash-helmet visor, characterized in that it comprises, on each side face of the crashhelmet: a) an element rigid with the visor, provided with a series of adjacent recesses, having a substantially semicircular cross-section, located on a circumference arc concentric with respect to that described by the visor during the opening and closing movements thereof; and b) an element rigid with the crash-helmet body and provided with a circular cross-section projection, effective to engage, in succession, with each said recess to provide the desired opening of said visor, said element being furthermore provided with a spring acting on said projection to push said projection in such a way as to engage said projection with said recesses.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the element rigid with the crash-helmet body consists of a lever hinged to the crash-helmet at one end thereof and provided, on the surface facing towards the element rigid with the visor, with a circular cross-section projection.

3. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the element rigid with the crash-helmet consists of a small ball.

4. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the corners separating the adjacent recesses of the element rigid with the visor are radiused in order to facilitate the passing of the projection from one recess to the next one.

5. A device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the spring is located in a housing recess formed in the body of the crash-helmet.

6. A crash helmet device substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.