PROTECTIVE HELMET

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a national phase filing under section 371 of PCT/EP2023/075143, filed Sep. 13, 2023, which claims the priority of German patent application no. 10 2022 123 342.1, filed Sep. 13, 2022, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a protective helmet.

BACKGROUND

Protective helmets, which are used in the military, in other security forces, in the fire brigade and other emergency services but also in factories and on construction sites, are primarily used to protect the wearer from mechanical risks of injury, e.g. from fragments or falling objects. Such protective helmets regularly also have straps for attaching the protective helmet to the head of the wearer.

In particular, both front straps and rear straps are regularly provided, which are intended to secure the protective helmet by tightening. The front straps are attached in a front region of the protective helmet and run substantially vertically downwards, where there are secured around a chin region of the wearer. The rear straps are attached in the region of the back of the head of the wearer and run more horizontally than vertically. The rear strap are also then secured in a chin region of the wearer and are connected to the front straps there. This principle has proved its worth when it comes to fastening the protective helmet.

A protective helmet having such a strap system is disclosed in DE 10 2012 000 370 A1 from the prior art.

However, the disadvantage of this arrangement of the front and rear straps is the difficulty involved in providing optionally removable earmuffs when the protective helmet is worn. In addition to the support band, such earmuffs also comprise two ear cups, which are arranged opposite one another and which cover and seal the ear and the region immediately surrounding it. Even if the rear straps are fastened very close to the rear end of the protective helmet, their path to the chin region, to which they are secured to fasten the protective helmet, is such that it intersects with the ear cups of earmuffs being worn. In such a case, the only option is to either guide the rear strap such that they rest on the ear cups or to guide them along an edge of the ear cups.

However, both approaches are substantially disadvantageous. When running along an edge of the ear cups, there is a risk that a rear strap will slip over the ear cups and thus no longer be secured. On the other hand, if the rear straps are guided over the ear cups from the outset, they no longer lie against the head over a relatively great length, which can also impair the tight fit of the protective helmet.

In the aforementioned DE 10 2012 000 370 A1 from the prior art, the rear straps are guided over protrusions of the support cage. Although this has a minimal influence on the path of the rear strap, this influence is not sufficient to deflect the rear strap away from an ear region of the head. In addition, these protrusions of the support cage are not movable in their position relative to the outer shell, particularly due to the fixed position of the support cage relative to the outer shell, and are certainly not freely movable.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a protective helmet which can be optionally used with earmuffs. Further embodiments provide a protective helmet with secure fastening by a front strap and a rear strap.

Embodiments of the invention include the finding that a deflecting arrangement can be provided, which can be moved relative to the protective helmet and which by engaging with at least one rear strap deflects it such that it runs at a distance from the ear region of the protective helmet wearer. In this way, earmuffs can optionally be worn with the protective helmet without influencing or impairing the path of the rear strap through the earmuffs.

The proposed protective helmet has an outer shell for distributing impact forces and a strap arrangement, which comprises at least front strap and at least one rear strap respectively for securing on a head of a wearer of the protective helmet. In other words, both the at least one front strap and the at least one rear strap are configured to be secured, thereby fastening the protective helmet on the head of the wearer. The protective helmet preferably has two front straps, which are fastened symmetrically in relation to a longitudinal axis of the protective helmet and are secured. The front straps can be secured together by means of a front buckle of the protective helmet. However, it may also be the case that the front straps are respectively secured with another structure such as a chin part. The protective helmet also preferably has two rear straps, which are fastened symmetrically in relation to a longitudinal axis of the protective helmet. The rear straps are preferably secured to one another by means of a rear buckle of the protective helmet. The rear straps can, however, also respectively be secured with another structure.

According to embodiments of the invention, front fastening locations of the protective helmet, at which the at least one front strap is fastened, are arranged offset with respect to rear fastening locations of the protective helmet, at which the at least one rear strap is fastened, along a longitudinal direction of the protective helmet. The longitudinal direction of the protective helmet corresponds to a line of sight of the wearer of the protective helmet. The at least one front strap and the at least one rear strap can respectively be attached directly to the outer shell. However, they can also be attached to other structures, such as head support segments or other support devices of the protective helmet, which are for their part attached directly or indirectly to the outer shell. The fastening can also be variable in the sense that, for example, the at least one front strap and/or the at least one rear strap are attached to a slider, which in turn can be moved along a guide rail. The offset of the fastening locations along the longitudinal axis means that the rear fastening locations are arranged behind the front fastening locations in relation to the longitudinal direction.

The proposed protective helmet is characterized in that the protective helmet has a deflecting arrangement for lying against the head when the at least one front strap has been secured and the at least one rear strap has been secured, which deflecting arrangement is connected to the outer shell so as to be freely movable with respect thereto and is configured to engage with the at least one rear strap such that the at least one rear strap is deflected away from an ear region of the head.

Here and below, free movement means that the deflecting arrangement is in principle at most loosely connected to the outer shell directly or indirectly, for example via an elastic band or cable. This should be distinguished from a connection via a part that is only slightly elastic, for example, such as an arm made of a hard plastic-like material, which only allows bending to a limited extent and therefore no free movement. Free movement relates to the state in which the straps are not secured. When the at least one front strap and the at least one rear strap are respectively secured, the deflecting arrangement is no longer freely moveable.

The deflecting arrangement is in particular movable relative to the outer shell if it is only connected to the outer shell via the at least one rear strap and/or the at least one front strap. It can then be moved substantially freely and its position is not fixed until both the at least one front strap and the at least one rear strap are secured. It may be the case that the deflecting arrangement itself or other structures of the protective helmet are adjustable and the position of the deflecting arrangement when said straps are secured also depends on the corresponding settings.

The deflection of the at least one rear strap away from the ear region of the head means that, compared to the secured state without a deflecting arrangement, the at least one rear strap runs further away from the ear region of the wearer in the secured state with a deflecting arrangement. This situation can also be described by the fact that the deflecting arrangement is configured to engage with the at least one rear strap such that the at least one rear strap runs at a distance from the ear region of the head. The ear region means in particular the region on the head of the wearer covered by an ear cup of earmuffs.

The protective helmet can in particular be a military helmet, a combat helmet, a police helmet or a pilot helmet. Likewise, the helmet can be a fire helmet, a forestry helmet or a work safety helmet.

In principle, it may be the case that the deflecting arrangement only engages with the at least one rear strap. One preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the deflecting arrangement is configured to engage with the at least one front strap such that the at least one front strap is deflected away from the ear region of the head. Accordingly, this situation can also be described by the fact that the deflecting arrangement is configured to engage with the at least one front strap such that the at least one front strap runs at a distance from the ear region of the head. In this way, the problems with the earmuffs described above for the rear strap can also be avoided for the at least one front strap. However, it may also be the case that the deflecting arrangement engages with the at least one front strap without deflecting it.

In principle, the deflecting arrangement can be positioned anywhere on the head of the wearer. In particular, the deflecting arrangement can be configured to rest against a chin region of the head that is centred in the transverse direction. However, another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the deflecting arrangement has at least one rigid deflecting device, which rests substantially against the side of the head. The deflecting arrangement can consist of a single deflecting device. However, it is preferable that the deflecting arrangement has two rigid deflecting devices or consists of these, which rest against opposite sides of the head. In particular, it may be the case that the deflecting devices are arranged spaced apart from one another. These are then accordingly separate deflecting devices. In this way, the chin region of the head can remain free, which can improve wearer comfort.

According to one preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the deflective arrangement has a tubular channel. The at least one deflecting device preferably has the tubular channel. Each of the at least one deflecting device can also have a tubular channel. Furthermore, it may be the case that the at least one rear strap and alternatively or additionally the at least one front strap is passed through the tubular channel. Such guidance through the channel guarantees that the front strap or rear strap is deflected in line with the course of the channel.

In principle, the deflective arrangement and in particular the at least one deflecting device can have any shape. According to another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the deflecting arrangement, preferably the at least one deflecting device, is curved in an arc-like fashion. In particular, it may be the case that the tubular channel is curved in an arc-like fashion.

The curvature of the deflecting arrangement and in particular of the at least one deflecting device can in principle be as desired. However, one preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the deflecting arrangement, and in particular the at least one deflecting device, is concavely curved relative to the ear region. In other words, the curvature leads around the ear region. This guarantees a deflection away from the ear region.

In principle, the orientation of the deflecting arrangement and the at least one deflecting device can also be as desired. Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the deflecting arrangement and preferably the at least one deflecting device has an orientation in the longitudinal direction. The feature of the extension in the longitudinal direction relates to the state in which the protective helmet is worn and the front and rear straps are secured. It means that the orientation has at least one portion in the longitudinal direction. An orientation would therefore be conceivable with an angle of 45° to the longitudinal direction such that the orientation has one component in the longitudinal direction which is the same size as the component in a vertical direction. However, it may also be the case that the deflecting arrangement and preferably the at least one deflecting device is oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction. This means that lengthwise, the deflecting arrangement or the at least one deflecting device has an orientation that either corresponds exactly to the longitudinal direction or comes at least closer to it than another direction, such as a transverse or vertical direction.

It may be the case that the at least one rear strap is arranged so as to be moveable relative to the deflecting arrangement, for example when passed loosely through the channel in the unsecured state. However, according to one preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the at least one rear strap is attached to the deflecting arrangement and preferably to the at least one deflecting device. It may also be the case that a respective rear strap is attached to a respective deflecting device.

Accordingly, it may also be the case that the at least one front strap is arranged so as to be moveable relative to the deflecting arrangement. According to another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the at least one front strap is attached to the deflecting arrangement, preferably to the at least one deflecting device. It may also be the case that a respective front strap is attached to a respective deflecting device.

One preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that a front deflection fastening point of the at least one front strap on the deflecting arrangement, preferably on the at least one deflecting device, is arranged offset relative to a rear deflection fastening point of the at least one rear strap on the deflecting arrangement, in particular on the at least one deflecting device, with respect to the longitudinal direction. The front deflection fastening point is a point of the deflecting arrangement on which at least one front strap is fastened. Accordingly, the rear deflection fastening point is a point of the deflecting arrangement on which at least one rear strap is fastened. In other words, the at least one front strap is then fastened further forwards than the at least one rear strap, in terms of the line of sight of the wearer. This means that more distance to the ear region can be maintained.

It may be the case that the protective helmet has no further straps for fastening in addition to the at least one front strap and the at least one rear strap. However, another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the strap arrangement has at least one chin strap for securing on a chin region of the head of the wearer. Here, it is further preferable that the at least one chin strap is attached to the deflecting arrangement. Likewise, the at least one chin strap can be attached to the at least one deflecting device. It may be the case that the chin strap only runs from the chin of the wearer to the deflecting arrangement and is not guided to the outer shell or close to the outer shell at all.

In principle, if there are two deflecting devices, these can be connected by the front straps, for example. However, according to one preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the at least one chin strap connects the two deflecting devices. In particular, it may be the case that the at least one chin strap is arranged spaced apart from the outer shell.

According to another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that a chin deflection fastening point of the deflecting arrangement is arranged between the front deflection fastening point and the rear deflection fastening point. The chin deflection fastening point is a point of the deflecting arrangement on which the at least one chin strap is fastened. It is preferable that the chin deflection fastening point is arranged closer to the front deflection fastening point than the rear deflection fastening point. This enables the rear deflection fastening point to be moved further in the direction of the back of the head. This in turn allows the distance between the rear strap and the ear region to be increased.

One preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the at least one rear strap is deflected by the deflecting arrangement such that the at least one rear strap is guided past an ear cup of earmuffs arranged under the protective helmet. It is also preferable that the at least one front strap is deflected by the deflecting arrangement such that the at least one front strap is guided past an ear cup of earmuffs arranged under the protective helmet.

According to one preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the protective helmet has a supporting arrangement for supporting the protective helmet on the head, that the supporting arrangement has a front support segment and a rear support segment spaced apart from the front support segment in the longitudinal direction, that the at least one front strap is fastened to the front support segment and the at least one rear strap to the rear support segment.

Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the protective helmet has earmuffs with two ear cups and a support band and in that the support band is passed under the outer shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantageous and preferred embodiments will result from the following description with reference to the figures. In the drawing, which only shows exemplary embodiments,

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view from the left of a first exemplary embodiment of the proposed protective helmet;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view from the right of the proposed protective helmet shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view from the left of a second exemplary embodiment of the proposed protective helmet; and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view from the right of the proposed protective helmet shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The protective helmet of the first exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a military helmet for soldiers, which is shown in FIG. 1 from the left-hand side and in FIG. 2 from the right-hand side. Two front straps 2 and two rear straps 3 of the strap arrangement 18 are attached to the outer shell 1. In particular, they are attached at front fastening locations 4 or at rear fastening locations 5. The protective helmet is visibly substantially symmetrical relative to a longitudinal direction 6 of the protective helmet. Both the front straps 2 and the rear straps 3 are secured together at a respective strap buckle.

The protective helmet has a total of two deflecting devices 7 respectively formed as deflecting arcs and arranged substantially opposite each other. The two deflecting devices 7 together form the deflecting arrangement 8. The rear straps 3 are guided through the channel which is likewise curved in an arc-like manner and which the respective deflecting device 7 has.

The fact that the front straps 2 and the rear straps 3 are secured means the deflecting devices 7 rest against the side of the head of the wearer. It can be seen that without securing the straps, the deflecting devices 7 are freely moveable relative to the outer shell 1.

In addition to the protective helmet, the wearer of the protective helmet also wears earmuffs with a left ear cup 9 and a right ear cup 9. A microphone 17 is attached to the left ear cup 9. The ear cups 9 respectively cover an ear region 10 of the head of the wearer of the protective helmet. The concave curvature in relation to the ear region 10 means that the rear straps 3 are guided around the ear region 10. Neither the rear straps 3 nor the front straps 3 touch the ear cups 9. Without the arcuate curvature of the channel of the deflecting device 7, the rear straps 3 would brush the ear cups 9.

The protective helmet of the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is also a military helmet for soldiers. Like the protective helmet of the first exemplary embodiment, the protective helmet of this second exemplary embodiment has an outer shell 1, front straps 2 attached at front fastening locations 4 and rear straps 3 attached at rear fastening locations 5. However, the rear fastening locations 5 are not located on the outer shell 1, but rather on the respective rear support segment of a supporting arrangement 11.

The protective helmet of the second exemplary embodiment also has deflecting devices 7 arranged opposite one another which form the deflecting arrangement 8. These deflecting devices 7 are rigid and curved in an arc-like manner, but do not have a channel.

Furthermore, in the state with secured front straps 2 and rear straps 3, the deflecting devices 7 have an orientation 12 which corresponds substantially to the longitudinal direction 6. Both respectively a front strap 2 and respectively a rear strap 3 are fastened to the deflecting devices 7 here. It can be seen that the front deflection fastening points 13 of the front straps 2 are arranged offset relative to the rear deflection fastening points 14 of the rear straps 3, with respect to the longitudinal direction 6. In this way, the rear straps 3 can be deflected to such an extent that they avoid the ear region 10 and thus also the ear cups 9 of the earmuffs. When the rear straps 3 and front straps 2 are not secured, the deflecting devices 7 are only connected to the outer shell 1 via these and are therefore freely movable.

In addition, the protective helmet of the second exemplary embodiment has chin straps 15, which are fastened at chin deflection fastening points 16 of the deflecting devices 7 and which connect the deflecting devices 7 in this way. Together with the front straps 2 and the rear straps 3, chin straps 15 form the strap arrangement 18.