Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-04-10
Neas, Michael A. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212689
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a compound protective helmet, and more particularly, to one that allows reliable visor lift operation, and firm securing of the visor when closed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, a chin protector is formed in front of the bubble of a protective helmet, and a window framed with a visor is provided above the chin protector.
FIGS. 1 through 4
of the accompanying drawings show the structure and visor operation of the prior art. Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
3
, the prior art helmet comprises a bubble
10
, a visor
20
, and a chin protector
30
are pivoted to the bubble
10
. A securing and release device
40
is fixed at the inner edge of the chin protector
30
to provide a full mask protective helmet by having the securing and release
40
secured in the grooves
101
provided at both sides of the bubble
10
. The securing and release device
40
is comprised of two hooks
401
linked with a cable
402
. The cable
402
is connected to a press member
403
and a resilient element
404
that presses against the press handle
403
. Therefore, when said hooks
401
of the securing and release device
40
are secured in the grooves
101
of the bubble, the protective helmet is a full mask. To lift the visor
20
, the press member
403
is pressed to pull the cables
402
, in turn, the hooks
401
disengage from the grooves as illustrated in FIG.
3
.
Now referring to
FIG. 4
, once the hooks
401
clear the grooves
101
, the chin protector
30
and the visor
20
are lifted up to a certain point to form a semi-mask protective helmet. To restore to full mask as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the chin protector is pulled down to let the hooks slide along the bubble
10
to fall into the grooves
101
and to be secured there. Though the prior art gives the advantage of easy conversion between full and semi mask protective helmet, the following defects in terms of its structural design and practical use are found.
1. Poor securing effects. Since the securing of both the chin protector and the bubble depends on the engagement of the hooks into the grooves provided on the bubble, in practice, the hooks tend to slip away and disengage from the grooves when even a mild force is applied to lift the chin protector.
2. Visor must be lifted in two steps. To lift the visor, a user must first press the press member to release the chin protector before pushing up the chin protector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4689836 (1987-09-01), Vitaloni
patent: 4766615 (1988-08-01), Morin et al.
patent: 4769857 (1988-09-01), Cianfanelli et al.
patent: 4794652 (1989-01-01), Planta et al.
patent: 5084918 (1992-02-01), Breining et al.
patent: 5301372 (1994-04-01), Matoba
patent: 5412810 (1995-05-01), Taniuchi
patent: 5444875 (1995-08-01), Taniuchi
Lung Huei Safety Helmet Co., Ltd.
Neas Michael A.
Pro-Techtor Inter-national Services
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