Hinge system/ visor attachment

Abstract

The invention relates to a visored helmet assembly (e.g. fireman's helmet) of a kind where the visor can be articulated or pivoted between either a raised (retracted) or lowered (operational) condition. The visor is biased to move to either its raised or lowered condition, and has a locking mechanism that can hold the visor captive in one condition (i.e. raised or lowered) when moved in that direction yet can be caused to release the visor from this captive state by the visor being moved further in that same direction. Preferably the visor is biased to the raised condition and the visor is captured in its raised condition yet can be released from such captive state, to then move under the action of the bias, by being pushed upwards.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A visored helmet assembly of a kind where the visor can be articulated or pivoted between a raised or lowered condition, and
 wherein the visor is biased to move to a lowered condition, and   wherein the visor has a locking mechanism that can hold the visor captive in one said condition when moved in that direction yet can be caused to release the visor from such captive state by the visor being moved further in that same direction.   
     
     
         23 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the visor can be captive in its raised condition yet can be released from such captive state, to then move under the action of the bias, by being raised beyond its captive raised condition. 
     
     
         24 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one formation locatable on the visor that is interengagable with one or more complimentary formation locatable on the helmet. 
     
     
         25 . A visored helmet of  claim 24  wherein the helmet and visor formations can be described as (a) male flange and (b) female coupler. 
     
     
         26 . A visored helmet of  claim 25  wherein the male flange is locatable on the visor and the female coupler is locatable on the helmet. 
     
     
         27 . A visored helmet of  claim 25  wherein the male flange is locatable on the helmet and the female coupler is locatable on the visor. 
     
     
         28 . A visored helmet of  claim 25  wherein the helmet formation is formed integrally with the helmet. 
     
     
         29 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the locking mechanism is a catch latch. 
     
     
         30 . A visored helmet of  claim 29  wherein the catch latch is located on the helmet and interacts with its corresponding member on the visor. 
     
     
         31 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the visor assembly includes a damper. 
     
     
         32 . A visored helmet of  claim 31  wherein the damper is interactively adjacent, or part of, the visor pivot point. 
     
     
         33 . A visored helmet of  claim 31  wherein the damper comprises a cog that interacts with a tooth rack on the visor or on a visor attachment plate. 
     
     
         34 . A visored helmet of  claim 31  wherein the damper is a stop damper. 
     
     
         35 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring, magnet, compressed fluid or elastic material. 
     
     
         36 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the articulated or pivot point of said visored helmet assembly comprises said articulated or pivot point and said biasing means. 
     
     
         37 . A visored helmet of  claim 22  wherein the articulated or pivot point includes the locking mechanism.