Foldable Safety Helmet

Abstract

A helmet includes a concave interior surface forming an interior space configured to receive a person's head in an expanded configuration and a shell surrounding the interior space. The shell may include a first hinge at a first predetermined location on the shell configured to allow a first portion of the helmet to pivot toward the interior space in a collapsed configuration, and a second hinge at a second predetermined location configured to allow a second portion of the helmet to pivot toward the first portion of the helmet in the collapsed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a concave interior surface forming an interior space configured to receive a person's head in an expanded configuration;   a shell surrounding the interior space, the shell including:
 a first hinge at a first predetermined location on the shell configured to allow a first portion of the helmet to pivot toward the interior space in a collapsed configuration; and 
 a second hinge at a second predetermined location on the shell configured to allow a second portion of the helmet to pivot toward the first portion of the helmet in the collapsed configuration, a volume of the interior space of the helmet in the collapsed configuration being less than a volume of the interior space of the helmet in the expanded configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the shell further includes a third hinge at a third predetermined location configured to allow a third portion of the helmet to fold toward the interior space in the collapsed configuration, and wherein the second hinge is configured to allow the second portion of the helmet to pivot toward the first portion of the helmet and the third portion of the helmet in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 2 , wherein the first and third hinges each have an axis of rotation generally parallel to one another and generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the helmet includes a front of the helmet and/or a rear of the helmet, the first portion of the helmet is a first side of the helmet, and the third portion of the shell is a second side of the helmet opposite the first side of the helmet. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 4  further comprising a securement configured to releasably couple the front of the helmet to the rear of the helmet and retain the helmet in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 5 , wherein the securement includes an elastic band. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the shell includes a plurality of grooves formed on an inner surface of the shell to form a plurality of facets, the facets being partially pivotable relative to one another to allow the shell to at least partially flatten in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the shell has a first thickness along the plurality of grooves, and a second thickness at the plurality of facets, the first thickness being less than the second thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of facets includes triangularly shaped facets. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a retention system comprising one or more straps configured to secure the helmet to the person's head. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 10 , wherein each strap of the retention system is releasably coupled to a ring coupled to the helmet, each strap having an end which extends through the ring and is coupled to itself by a reversible fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of pads coupled to an inner surface of the shell and configured to absorb an impact force exerted to an exterior surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 12 , wherein the pads are comprised of urethane. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 12  further comprising a cover extending over an outer surface of the shell. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein the cover extends over the shell and the plurality of pads. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is comprised of a first material covering the outer surface of the shell and a second material covering the plurality of pads. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising one or more lights positioned on an exterior surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more lights includes a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is comprised of a monolithic piece of molded plastic, the first and second hinges being formed from portions of the shell which are thinner than a remainder of the shell. 
     
     
         20 . A helmet comprising:
 a shell having an inner surface forming a concave shape around an interior space configured to receive a person's head in an expanded configuration, the inner surface including a plurality of grooves intersecting one another to form a plurality of facet sections, the plurality of facet sections being pivotable relative to one another, a first groove of the plurality of grooves forming a first hinge configured to allow a first side portion of the helmet to pivot toward the interior space in a collapsed configuration, a second groove of the plurality of grooves forming a second hinge configured to allow a second side portion of the helmet to pivot toward the interior space, and a third groove of the plurality of grooves forming a third hinge configured to allow a front portion of the helmet to pivot toward a rear portion of the helmet to reduce a volume of the interior space in the collapsed configuration, the first, second and third grooves extending deeper into the inner surface than the remainder of the plurality of grooves such that folding of the helmet occurs primarily about the first, second and third hinges; and   a plurality of pads coupled to an inside surface of the shell and configured to absorb an impact force exerted to an exterior surface of the shell.   
     
     
         21 . The helmet of  claim 20  further comprising a cover extending over and generally conforming to the shape of the shell and the plurality of pads. 
     
     
         22 . A helmet comprising:
 a shell having an inner surface forming a concave shape around an interior space configured to receive a person's head, the shell being made from a high density polyethylene; and   a plurality of pads coupled to an inside surface of the shell and configured to absorb an impact force exerted to an exterior surface of the shell, the pads comprising a urethane foam.   
     
     
         23 . The helmet of  claim 22 , wherein the shell consists of a monolithic piece of molded high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         24 . The helmet of  claim 22 , wherein the shell includes a first hinge configured to allow a first portion of the helmet to pivot toward the interior space in a collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The helmet of  claim 24 , wherein the shell further includes a second hinge configured to allow a second portion of the helmet to pivot toward the first portion of the helmet in the collapsed configuration, a volume of the interior space of the helmet in the collapsed configuration being less than a volume of the interior space of the helmet in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         26 . The helmet of  claim 22 , wherein the shell includes a plurality of grooves formed on the inner surface of the shell to form a plurality of facets, the facets being partially pivotable relative to one another to allow the shell to at least partially flatten in a collapsed configuration.