Protective helmet

Abstract

A shock-absorbing helmet for sporting activities, e.g., including at least one damping layer covering a portion of the user's skull and an inner cap adapted to be inserted, at least partially, between the protective layer and the skull, the inner cap comprising at least one bladder. The inner volume of the bladder of the helmet defines an initial inner cap thickness, at least locally, in an initial customization configuration, and the helmet includes a mechanism for adjusting the inner volume of the bladder enabling, upon compression of the bladder, the discharge of a portion of the fluid contained in the bladder, the decrease in the inner volume of the bladder providing a localized reduction in the initial inner cap thickness in order to conform the inner cap to the morphology of the user's skull.

1 . A protective helmet comprising:
 at least one damping layer structured and arranged to cover a portion of a skull of a user;   an inner cap structured and arranged to be inserted, at least partially, between the damping layer and the user's skull, the inner cap comprising at least one bladder;   the bladder having an the inner volume defining an initial inner cap thickness, at least locally, in an initial customization configuration;   the protective helmet further comprising an inner volume adjusting mechanism structured and arranged to adjust the inner volume of the bladder;   the adjusting mechanism enabling a discharge of a portion of fluid contained in the bladder upon compression of the bladder to decrease the inner volume of the bladder, said decrease in the inner volume of the bladder providing a localized reduction in the initial inner cap thickness in order to conform the inner cap to a morphology of the user's skull.   
     
     
         2 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjusting mechanism comprises a device for maintaining an underpressure in the inner volume of the bladder in relation to a pressure of the inner volume of the bladder in an initial customization configuration.   
     
     
         3 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner volume of the bladder in an initial customization configuration is at ambient pressure.   
     
     
         4 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjusting mechanism comprises a device for automatic discharge of a portion of fluid contained in the bladder upon compression of the bladder.   
     
     
         5 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjusting mechanism comprising a non-return valve structured and arranged for only deflating the bladder.   
     
     
         6 . A protective helmet according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the adjusting mechanism comprises a device for inhibiting the non-return valve enabling a functional vent for the reflation of the bladder.   
     
     
         7 . A protective helmet according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the inhibiting element only allows reflation of the bladder by connecting the inner volume of the bladder to ambient air.   
     
     
         8 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner cap comprises an arrangement for automatic reflation of the bladder ( 40 ,  1040 ,  2040 ) when the inner volume of the bladder is connected to ambient air.   
     
     
         9 . A protective helmet according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the automatic reflation arrangement is a compressible foam.   
     
     
         10 . A protective helmet according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the density of the compressible foam ranges between 20 kg/m 3  and 50 kg/m 3 .   
     
     
         11 . A protective helmet according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the compressible foam has a thickness ranging between 5.0 mm and 12 mm.   
     
     
         12 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner cap covers a substantially circumferential band within the helmet corresponding to a total or partial circumference of the user's head.   
     
     
         13 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner cap comprises an excess thickness in the occipital zone.   
     
     
         14 . A protective helmet according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inflation chamber arranged in an area of a portion of the helmet structured and arranged to be in contact with a sub-occipital portion of the user's skull;   an element of the adjusting mechanism of the bladder is connected to the inflation chamber to inflate inflation chamber, at least partially, in an event of a decrease in a fluid volume contained in the bladder during an at least partial adaptation of the helmet to the morphology of the user's skull.   
     
     
         15 . A method of customizing a protective helmet as defined in  claim 1 , to the morphology of the skull, the method comprising:
 initializing the bladder in the initial configuration, in which the inner circumference of the inner cap is less than a circumference of the skull in the area of contact zones; and   positioning the helmet on the head of the user, the positioning causing a automatic or manual discharge of a portion of the fluid contained in the bladder, upon compression of the bladder, to conform the inner cap to the morphology of the user's skull.