Helmet, particularly cycling helmet comprising spacers to reduce mechanical locking of opposing layers of the helmet, and helmet with reduced geometrical locking

Abstract

Helmet ( 1 ) comprising: an inner layer ( 3 ) comprising an outer surface ( 3 a, 31 a ) and an outer protective layer ( 2 ) arranged on the inner layer ( 3 ), the outer protective layer ( 2 ) comprising an inner surface ( 2 a ) facing the outer surface ( 3 a, 31 a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ), wherein under an impact force having at least a tangential force component along an outer surface of the outer protective layer ( 2 ), the outer protective layer ( 2 ) is configured to move relative to the opposing outer surface ( 3 a, 31 a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ), wherein the inner surface ( 2 a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) is separated from the outer surface ( 3 a, 31 a ) of the inner layer by a plurality of spacers ( 4, 40 ) for reducing a mechanical locking between the inner layer ( 3 ) and the outer protective layer ( 2 ) upon said relative movement of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) with respect to the inner layer ( 3 ).

1 . A helmet ( 1 ) comprising:
 an inner layer ( 3 ) comprising an outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ), and   an outer protective layer ( 2 ) arranged on the inner layer ( 3 ), the outer protective layer ( 2 ) comprising an inner surface ( 2   a ) facing the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ), wherein under an impact force having at least a tangential force component along an outer surface of the outer protective layer ( 2 ), the outer protective layer ( 2 ) is configured to move relative to the opposing outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ),   
       wherein the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) is separated from the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer by a plurality of spacers ( 4 ,  40 ) configured to reduce a mechanical locking between the inner layer ( 3 ) and the outer protective layer ( 2 ) upon said relative movement of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) with respect to the inner layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         2 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein due to the spacers ( 4 ) a hollow gap ( 5 ) is formed between the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ) and the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 4 ,  40 ) are integrally formed with the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) and protrude towards the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         4 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 4 ,  40 ) are integrally formed with the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ) and protrude towards the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacers ( 4 ) are separate elements arranged between the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ) and the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer protective layer ( 2 ) comprises a plurality of shells arranged side by side on the inner layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the size of the spacers ( 4 ,  40 ) and/or the distribution of the spacers ( 4 ,  40 ) along the outer protective layer varies ( 2 ). 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein said relative movement of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) comprises at least one of: a folding of the outer protective layer ( 2 ), a hinging of the outer protective layer ( 2 ), a crumpling of the outer protective layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer protective layer is constrained to the inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer ( 3 ) comprises an energy absorbing layer ( 30 ). 
     
     
         13 . The helmet according to  claim 12 , wherein the helmet ( 1 ) comprises an intermediary layer ( 31 ) forming a part of the inner layer ( 3 ), the intermediary layer ( 31 ) being arranged between the energy absorbing layer ( 30 ) and the outer protective layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         14 . The helmet according to  claim 13 , wherein the intermediary layer ( 31 ) is fixed to the energy absorbing layer ( 30 ) or is suspended, and/or wherein the intermediary layer ( 31 ) is a low friction layer, or wherein the intermediary layer ( 31 ) comprises a plurality of elements, particularly rolling elements, that are configured to rotate on impact or that embed into the energy absorbing layer ( 30 ) on impact, wherein particularly said elements are formed by the spacers or wherein said elements are separate elements with respect to the spacers. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective spacer ( 4 ) is formed by a dot-like protrusion of the outer surface ( 3   a,    31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ) or of the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ). 
     
     
         20 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective spacer ( 4 ) forms an elongated rib. 
     
     
         21 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective spacer ( 4 ) tapers. 
     
     
         22 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective spacer ( 4 ) is formed as one of: a cylinder, a cone, a pyramid, a cuboid, a truncated cone. 
     
     
         23 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective spacer ( 4 ) comprises a face side ( 4   a ) having a circumferential rounded edge ( 4   b ). 
     
     
         24 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the respective spacer ( 4 ) is configured to be embedded into an opposing layer ( 3 ) of the helmet ( 1 ) on impact. 
     
     
         25 . The helmet according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface ( 2   a ) of the outer protective layer ( 2 ) is corrugated so that the inner surface ( 2   a ) forms a plurality of surface areas ( 20 ) comprising a spherical curvature and being concentric with respect to an opposing surface area ( 31   a ) of the inner layer ( 3 ). 
     
     
         26 . A helmet (B 1 ) comprising:
 an inner layer (B 3 ) comprising an outer surface, and   an outer protective layer (B 2 ) arranged on the inner layer (B 2 ), the outer protective layer (B 2 ) comprising at least two sections (B 21 , B 22 ), wherein each section (B 21 , B 22 ) comprises an inner surface (B 21   a,  B 22   a ) facing an outer surface portion (B 31 , B 32 ) of the inner layer (B 3 ), wherein upon exposure to an impact force (F T ) having at least a tangential force component along an outer surface of the respective section (B 21 , B 22 ), the respective section (B 21 , B 22 ) is configured to move relative to the opposing outer surface portion (B 31 , B 32 ) of the inner layer (B 3 ) and separate from the other section (B 32 , B 31 ),   
       wherein 
       the inner surface (B 21   a,  B 22   a ) of each section (B 21 , B 22 ) comprises at least one region (R) that comprises a spherical curvature and is concentric to the opposing outer surface portion (B 31 , B 32 ) of the inner layer (B 3 ). 
     
     
         27 - 39 . (canceled)