Protective Helmet

Abstract

A firefighter's helmet comprising an inner protective shell configured to be worn on its own as a helmet and an outer protective shell configured to be fitted over the inner shell and realizably retained thereon, a retaining mechanism for retaining the inner shell in the outer shell, wherein the retaining mechanism is moveable by a user whilst wearing the inner shell between a first position in which the retaining mechanism engages a said shell substantially to prevent relative movement between the two shells, and a second position in which the retaining mechanism permits relative movement of the shells whereby allowing the donning or doffing of the outer shell by the user.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . A firefighter's helmet comprising an inner protective shell having an outer layer of impact-resisting plastics and an inner-impact-resisting layer, the inner shell being wearable on its own when the user is attending an incident other than a structural fire, and an outer shell adapted to fit over the inner shell and to be retained thereon, the outer shell being more extensive that the inner shell so as to protect the user against structural firefighting risks, and being configured to be fitted to and removed from the inner shell by the user whilst wearing the inner shell.  
     
     
         17 . A firefighter's helmet comprising an inner protective shell configured to be worn on its own as a helmet and an outer protective shell configured to be fitted over the inner shell and releasably retained thereon, comprising retaining mechanism for retaining the inner shell in the outer shell, wherein the retaining mechanism is moveable by a user whilst wearing the inner shell between a first position in which the retaining mechanism engages a said shell substantially to prevent relative movement between the two shells; and a second position in which the retaining mechanism permits relative movement of the shells whereby allowing the donning or doffing of the outer shell by the user.  
     
     
         18 . A helmet as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the outer shell has an outwardly extending brim or cape.  
     
     
         19 . A helmet according to  claim 16 , comprising a spacer for spacing the outer shell from the inner shell.  
     
     
         20 . A helmet according to  claim 16 , comprising a visor which is accommodated between the inner and outer shells when not in use.  
     
     
         21 . A helmet according to  claim 17 , wherein the retaining mechanism is resiliently biased towards the first position.  
     
     
         22 . A helmet according to  claim 21 , wherein the retaining mechanism is moveable by a user whilst wearing the inner shell in order to move it from the first to the second position.  
     
     
         23 . A helmet according to  claim 17 , wherein the retaining mechanism is pivotally connected to the helmet.  
     
     
         24 . A helmet according to  claim 17 , wherein the retaining mechanism is disposed on the outer shell.  
     
     
         25 . A helmet according to  claim 24 , wherein the retaining mechanism engages a lower edge of the inner shell.  
     
     
         26 . A helmet according to  claim 23 , wherein the retaining mechanism is pivotally mounted on an attachment mechanism which is connected to the outer shell, the retaining mechanism thereby being spaced from the outer shell.  
     
     
         27 . A helmet according to  claim 26 , wherein the inner helmet comprises a slot, which is engageable by the attachment mechanism such that when the retaining mechanism is in the second position the attachment mechanism can be moved through the slot whilst when the retaining mechanism is in the first position the attachment mechanism cannot be moved through the slot.  
     
     
         28 . A helmet according to  claim 27 , wherein the retaining mechanism engages a lower edge of the slot when in the first position.  
     
     
         29 . A helmet according to  claim 26 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a mounting for an accessory to the helmet.  
     
     
         30 . A helmet according to  claim 27 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a mounting for an accessory to the helmet.  
     
     
         31 . A helmet according to  claim 28 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a mounting for an accessory to the helmet.  
     
     
         32 . A helmet according to  claim 16 , comprising a mounting for attaching at least one accessory to the helmet.  
     
     
         33 . A method of protecting a firefighter comprising providing the firefighter with a helmet comprising an inner protective shell wearable on its own and an outer protective shell adapted to fit over and to be retained on the inner shell and causing the firefighter to wear the inner shell or both shells depending on the nature of the risk presented by the incident which the firefighter is attending.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein the firefighter dons or doffs the outer shell whilst wearing the inner shell.