Convertible integral helmet and method for connecting or disconnecting the constituent parts thereof

Abstract

An integral helmet, in particular a so-called full-face helmet, that is preferably designed with a shell construction, comprising a helmet upper-shell unit with an integrated neck unit and a chin protection unit with a jaw clamp, wherein the chin protection unit is detachably connectable to the helmet upper-shell unit so as to form the integral helmet, wherein the chin protection unit is designed for connection to the neck unit as an open chin bar unit with end areas that are separated from one another at a distance so that, in the assembled state, the end areas form a completely closed unit together with the neck unit. Also, a method for connecting and/or disconnecting, without the use of tools, a chin protection unit having a jaw clamp to, or from, a helmet upper-shell unit having an integrated neck unit, so as to form an integral helmet, in particular an integral helmet.

1 . An integral helmet, comprising:
 a helmet upper-shell unit with an integrated neck unit and a chin protection unit and with a jaw clamp, wherein the chin protection unit is detachably connected to the helmet upper-shell unit to form the integral helmet,   
       wherein
 the chin protection unit is designed as an open chin bar unit with end areas that are at a distance away from one another for connecting to the neck unit so that, in the assembled state, the end areas form a completely closed unit together with the neck unit. 
 
     
     
         2 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein a viewing window is designed between a top area of the chin protection unit and a front area of the helmet upper-shell unit and/or the neck unit, and a self-locking interlock mechanism is provided for connecting the chin protection unit to the helmet upper-shell unit, wherein the interlock mechanism comprises connection means on the helmet upper-shell unit for interacting with corresponding connection means on the chin protection unit, wherein the connection means on the helmet upper-shell unit are disposed at the front area of the helmet upper-shell unit. 
     
     
         3 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one first connection means on the chin protection unit and the first connection means on the helmet upper-shell unit corresponding thereto form a pivot joint in the connected state, around a pivot axle of which the chin protection unit is able to pivot relative to the helmet upper-shell unit. 
     
     
         4 . The integral helmet according  claim 1 , wherein a second connection means on the chin protection unit and/or a second connection means on the helmet upper-shell unit is at least partially peripherally surrounded by the other respectively corresponding second connection means, in the connected state. 
     
     
         5 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connection means and/or the second connection means on the chin protection unit are provided at the end area. 
     
     
         6 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the interlock mechanism comprises locking means for locking the connection of the chin protection unit and the helmet upper-shell unit. 
     
     
         7 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the front area and the top area respective overlap areas that correspond with one another, and the chin protection unit abuts the helmet upper-shell unit in an overlapping fashion, at least partially by way of said overlap areas, in the connected state. 
     
     
         8 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the overlap areas are designed as spring-groove overlap areas, wherein an overlap area of the chin protection unit or of the helmet upper-shell unit is designed as a spring and the overlap area corresponding thereto is designed as a groove. 
     
     
         9 . The integral helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the overlap areas comprise guide means for facilitating connection of the chin protection unit to the helmet upper-shell unit. 
     
     
         10 . A method for tool-free connecting and/or disconnecting a chin protection unit comprising a jaw clamp to, or from, a helmet upper-shell unit with an integrated neck unit, the method forming an integral helmet according to  claim 1 , in particular for a helmet upper-shell unit placed on a head during the connection/disconnection, comprising the steps of:
 rotatably connecting two end areas of the chin protection unit to the neck unit; and   pivoting the chin protection unit with the end areas, said chin protection unit being connected to the neck unit, relative to the helmet upper-shell unit, wherein the end areas are connected to the helmet upper-shell unit, and wherein the connecting is carried out without the use of tools by way of self-locking connection.