Helmet with Anti-Fog System for Skydiving and Snow Skiing

Abstract

A multi-purpose helmet includes a lens for protecting the face of a user during an activity such as skydiving or selected winter sports. An air-intake hole is formed on the helmet, and an airflow deflector plate is positioned against the air-intake hole. Thus, the deflector plate directs air over the inside surface of the lens to prevent fog from forming on this surface during the activity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-purpose helmet with a fog prevention feature which comprises:
 a helmet body having an inner surface and an outer surface and formed with an opening bordered by a helmet rim of the helmet body, wherein the helmet rim is dimensioned to surround the face of a user, and wherein the helmet rim has a forehead portion and a chin portion, with the chin portion being formed with an air-intake hole;   a transparent lens formed with a quick release mechanism, wherein the lens has an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the lens is mounted on the helmet body to cover the opening, and to separate the inside surface of the lens from the forehead portion of the rim to create an exhaust vent therebetween; and   an airflow deflector plate positioned against the air-intake hole to establish an air-intake vent to direct air into the helmet and over the inside surface of the lens to prevent fog from forming on the inside surface during an activity by a user.   
     
     
         2 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 1  wherein the airflow deflector plate comprises:
 a substantially flat base member having a first end and a second end; 
 a scoop formed at the first end of the base member, wherein the scoop is positioned across the air-intake hole to establish an upper air-intake vent and a lower air-intake vent; and 
 a plurality of vanes mounted on the base member to extend between the base member and the chin portion of the helmet body to create a plurality of airways in the upper air-intake vent for moving air from the air-intake hole and into the helmet body. 
 
     
     
         3 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 2  wherein the airflow deflector plate defines a centerline and each vane in the plurality is oriented at an angle relative to the centerline. 
     
     
         4 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 3  wherein the exhaust vent extends through an arc of approximately 100°, and is centered on the air-intake hole. 
     
     
         5 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 1  wherein the exhaust vent has a separation distance of approximately ⅛ inch between the inside surface of the lens and the forehead portion of the rim. 
     
     
         6 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pair of swivel mounts positioned opposite each other on the helmet for engagement with the lens, to allow for a lifting movement of the lens away from the opening to permit access into the helmet body through the opening; 
 a pair of release buttons, with each release button being connected with a respective swivel mount to selectively hold the lens in place on the helmet body to surround the face of the user; 
 a camera mount positioned on the lens, wherein the camera mount is formed with a mounting plate affixed to the lens and a camera case slidably engageable with the mounting plate; and 
 a heating unit positioned on the outer surface of the helmet body for heating the lens and preventing fog, wherein the heating unit includes a plurality of resistive conducting strips formed onto the inner surface of the lens, and wherein the heating unit and the plurality of conducting strips are interconnected by a heating wire positioned on the outer surface of the helmet. 
 
     
     
         7 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 1  wherein the quick release mechanism comprises:
 a pair of deformable buttons, each formed with an internal spring, wherein one button is formed onto either side of the helmet body, and wherein each button is formed with an annular rib and an annular notch for securing the lens to the helmet; and 
 a pair of quick release lens apertures formed onto opposing sides of the lens, wherein each aperture receives one button to secure the lens to the helmet. 
 
     
     
         8 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 1  wherein the quick release mechanism comprises:
 at least two locking pins each having a first end and a second end and an outer surface, wherein the first end is formed with a depressible plunger, and wherein the second end is formed with a plurality of ball bearings, and wherein the ball bearings are moveable from a first configuration extending beyond the outer surface of the pin and a second configuration with the ball bearings retracted inside the pin, wherein the plunger is depressed to move the ball bearings between the first configuration and the second configuration; 
 at least two apertures formed onto the lens for receiving the locking pins; and 
 at least two locking shafts having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each shaft is formed with a plurality of notches at the distal end, wherein each notch receives a ball bearing to produce a secure fit between the pin and the shaft. 
 
     
     
         9 . A multi-purpose helmet with a fog prevention feature which comprises:
 a helmet body having an inner surface and an outer surface and formed with an air-intake hole;   a transparent lens engageable via a quick release mechanism with the helmet body to protect the face of a user, wherein the lens has an inside surface and an outside surface;   an airflow deflector plate affixed to the helmet body for deflecting air into the helmet from the air-intake hole and for directing the deflected air against the inside surface of the lens during an activity; and   an exhaust vent created by a separation distance between the helmet body and the inside surface of the lens, wherein the exhaust vent is located across the lens and opposite the air-intake hole, and wherein the exhaust vent extends through an arc centered on the air-intake hole to draw air over the inside surface of the lens to prevent fog on the lens during the activity.   
     
     
         10 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 9  wherein the helmet body is formed with an opening bordered by a helmet rim of the helmet body, wherein the helmet rim is dimensioned to surround the face of a user, and wherein the helmet rim has a forehead portion and a chin portion, with the chin portion being formed with the air-intake hole. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 10  wherein the airflow deflector plate is glued onto the chin portion of the helmet rim. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 9  wherein the airflow deflector plate comprises:
 a substantially flat base member having a first end and a second end; 
 a scoop formed at the first end of the base member, wherein the scoop is positioned across the air-intake hole to establish an upper air-intake vent and a lower air-intake vent; and 
 a plurality of vanes mounted on the base member to extend between the base member and the chin portion of the helmet body to create a plurality of airways in the upper air-intake vent for moving air from the air-intake hole and into the helmet body. 
 
     
     
         13 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 12  wherein the airflow deflector plate defines a centerline and each vane in the plurality is oriented at an angle relative to the centerline. 
     
     
         14 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 9  wherein the exhaust vent extends through an arc of approximately 100°. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 9  wherein the separation distance is approximately ⅛ inch. 
     
     
         16 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a pair of swivel mounts positioned opposite each other on the helmet for engagement with the lens, to allow for a lifting movement of the lens away from the opening to permit access into the helmet body through the opening; 
 a pair of release buttons, with each release button being connected with a respective swivel mount to selectively hold the lens in place on the helmet body to surround the face of the user; 
 a camera mount positioned on the lens, wherein the camera mount is formed with a mounting plate affixed to the lens and a camera case slidably engageable with the mounting plate; and 
 a heating unit positioned on the outer surface of the helmet body for heating the lens and preventing fog, wherein the heating unit includes a plurality of resistive conducting strips formed onto the inner surface of the lens, and wherein the heating unit and the plurality of conducting strips are interconnected by a heating wire positioned on the outer surface of the helmet. 
 
     
     
         17 . A multi-purpose helmet as recited in  claim 9  wherein the lens is made of a clear plastic material. 
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing a multi-purpose helmet with a fog prevention feature which comprises the steps of:
 providing a helmet body having an inner surface and an outer surface and formed with an opening bordered by a helmet rim of the helmet body, wherein the helmet rim is dimensioned to surround the face of a user, and wherein the helmet rim has a forehead portion and a chin portion, with the chin portion being formed with an air-intake hole:   mounting a transparent lens on the helmet body via a quick release mechanism, wherein the lens has an inside surface and an outside surface, and is mounted on the helmet body to cover the opening to separate the inside surface of the lens from the forehead portion of the rim and to create an exhaust vent therebetween:   attaching a heating unit to the outer surface of the helmet body for heating the lens and preventing fog, wherein the heating unit includes a plurality of resistive conducting strips formed onto the inner surface of the lens, and wherein the heating unit and the plurality of conducting strips are interconnected by a heating wire positioned on the outer surface of the helmet; and   positioning an airflow deflector plate against the air-intake hole to establish an air-intake vent to direct air into the helmet and over the inside surface of the lens, wherein the air deflector includes a substantially flat base member with a scoop formed thereon and positioned across the air-intake hole to establish an upper air-intake vent and a lower air-intake vent, and with a plurality of vanes mounted on the base member to extend between the base member and the chin portion of the helmet body to create a plurality of airways in the upper air-intake vent for moving air from the air-intake hole and into the helmet body to prevent fog from forming on the inside surface during an activity by the user.   
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the airflow deflector plate defines a centerline and each vane in the plurality is oriented at an angle relative to the centerline. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the exhaust vent extends through an arc of approximately 100°, and is centered on the air-intake hole, and further wherein the exhaust vent has a separation distance of approximately ⅛ inch between the inside surface of the lens and the forehead portion of the rim.