Safety helmet

Abstract

A protective helmet comprising a shell with an internal halo band and a sub assembly comprising of a shock absorber panel located in use intermediate the shell and the head of the wearer over reduce transfer of shock forces encountered by the shell to the head of the wearer. The sub assembly also comprises of framing, secured to the halo band and extending from the halo band to the shock absorber panel to releasably secure the shock absorber panel to the halo. The sub assembly is able to be removed from the shell for cleaning and replacement purposes.

1 . A protective helmet comprising:
 a. a helmet shell,   b. an inner assembly comprising of:
 i. a halo secured to the shell and positioned to locate about the head circumference of a wearer, intermediate of the head of the wearer and the shell, and 
 ii. a sub assembly of
 (a) a shock absorber panel located in use intermediate the shell and the head of the wearer over at least part of the crown and of the head of the wearer and extending downwardly from the crown, the shock absorber panel comprising of a plurality of interconnected discrete spaced apart shock absorbing elements to, in concert, reduce transfer of shock forces encountered by the shell to the head of the wearer, 
 (b) framing, secured to the halo and extending from the halo to the shock absorber panel to releasably secure the shock absorber panel to the halo, 
 (c) a head harness to, in use, locate to the head of the wearer and anchored to the framing, 
 
 iii. a liner registered inside the helmet shell and intermediate of the helmet shell and the shock absorber panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the helmet shell meets at least one of
 a. the standard of EN443:2008 for penetration resistance 
 b. the standard of EN443:2008 for impact resistance, and 
 c. the standard of NFPA 1971:2008 for heat resistance. 
 
     
     
         3 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 1 or claim 2  wherein the helmet shell comprises, extensive over its shape, an impact resistant material selected from one of:
 i. a plastic material, 
 ii. poly-carbonate, 
 iii. co-moulded poly-carbonates, 
 iv. polyamide, 
 v. resin infused polyaramid, 
 vi. resin infused Kevlar™, 
 vii. resin infused fibreglass 
 viii. resin infused carbon fibre, 
 ix. a laminated assembly of any one or more of the above, and 
 x. a laminate sandwich assembly of anyone of more of the above involving a foamed material as the sandwiched material. 
 
     
     
         4 . A protective helmet as claimed in anyone of  claims 1 to 3  wherein the liner is a cap located intermediate of the helmet shell and the inner assembly and comprises of a layer of foam to provide thermal insulation from heat external of the helmet shell for the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . A protective helmet as claimed in anyone of  claims 1 to 4  wherein the halo is releasably secured to the shell. 
     
     
         6 . A protective helmet as claimed in anyone of  claims 1 to 5  wherein the halo comprises of a halo band located about the head of the wearer in use intermediate of the head of the wearer and the helmet shell inside the helmet shell. 
     
     
         7 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the halo band comprised of at least at least 3 arch members, the arch members are able to releasably connect together using mechanical fastening that when connected together define a rigid halo band as a structural component from which the subassembly depends. 
     
     
         8 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the halo comprises of anchor members secured to the halo band at spaced apart locations, the anchor members project from the halo band to present fastening regions at where the anchor members can connect and be fastened to the helmet shell. 
     
     
         9 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the anchor members releasably secure to the shell at least 2 spaced apart locations and provide shock impact absorbing capacity whilst keeping the liner in the helmet at the correct height and orientation. 
     
     
         10 . A protective helmet as claimed in anyone of  claims 1 to 9  wherein in concert the helmet shell and the halo act provide crush resistance of the helmet shell to meet at least one of standards: AS/NZS 4067:2012 and EN443:2008. 
     
     
         11 . A protective helmet as claimed in anyone of  claims 1 to 10  wherein the subassembly can be repeatedly released from and coupled to the halo. 
     
     
         12 . A protective helmet as claimed in anyone of  claims 1 to 11  wherein shock absorber panel comprises of a plurality discrete spaced apart shock absorbing elements connected together by live hinge elements and the shock absorbing elements are made of elastically flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 12  wherein each shock absorbing element comprises of a cup having an open top and side walls extending to a base defining the cup containment region, wherein the open top in use is presented to the liner. 
     
     
         14 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 13  wherein each open top is able to be sealed against the liner in an airtight manner against the liner so that air in each cup is able to be trapped and provide the cup with a higher resistance to compression. 
     
     
         15 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 13 or 14  wherein the cups can compress in the mouth to base direction to act as a compressive spring. 
     
     
         16 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 13 to 15  wherein the cups are tri-spoke in cross sectional shape between the mouth opening and base. 
     
     
         17 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 12 to 16  wherein the shock absorbing elements are spaced apart from each other to allow airflow between the shock absorbing elements to help keep head of wearer cool. 
     
     
         18 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 12 to 17  wherein when an impact force is received to the helmet skin, the elements are able to slide across the liner and when so sliding across the lining of the liner, energy is absorbed by the elements. 
     
     
         19 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 18  wherein the framing is releasably secured to the halo using a connector arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the connector arrangement is a twist and lock connector arrangement. 
     
     
         21 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 20  wherein the framing connects the shock absorber panel to the halo in a releasable manner. 
     
     
         22 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 21  wherein the framing comprises of at least one frame member. 
     
     
         23 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 22  wherein there are two frame members each secured to the halo and on each side of the head when in use. 
     
     
         24 . A protective helmet as claimed in  claim 22 or 23  wherein the frame members independently connect to the shock absorber panel. 
     
     
         25 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 21  wherein the head harness is releasably anchored to the framing. 
     
     
         26 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 22  wherein the head harness is releasably anchored at least 3 and preferably 4 spaced apart locations to the framing in a position adjustable manner. 
     
     
         27 . A protective helmet as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 22  wherein a visor is provided releasable mounted to the halo in a pivotal manner to allow the visor to move between a higher stowed condition and a lower deployed condition. 
     
     
         28 . A shock absorber panel for a helmet to locate in use intermediate a helmet shell and the head of the wearer over at least the crown of the head of the wearer, the shock absorber panel comprising of plurality of interconnected discrete spaced apart shock absorbing elements to, in concert, reduce transfer of shock forces encountered by the shell to the head of the wearer. 
     
     
         29 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the shock absorber panel is of unitary construction. 
     
     
         30 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in  claim 28 or 29  wherein the shock absorber panel is concave in shape in use. 
     
     
         31 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claims 28 to 30  wherein the shock absorber panel comprises of a plurality discrete spaced apart shock absorbing elements connected together by live hinge elements. 
     
     
         32 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the shock absorbing elements are made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         33 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claim 31 or 32  wherein the shock absorbing elements are made of elastically flexible material. 
     
     
         34 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claims 31 to 33  wherein each shock absorbing element comprises of a cup having an open top and side walls extending to a base defining the cup containment region. 
     
     
         35 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the open top is sealed in an airtight manner against a liner of the helmet when the shock absorbing element is pressed against the liner. 
     
     
         36 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in  claim 34 or 35  wherein the cups can compress in the mouth to base direction. 
     
     
         37 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claims 34 to 36  wherein the cups can compress in the mouth to base direction to act as a compressive spring. 
     
     
         38 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claims 34 to 37  wherein the cups can compress in the mouth to base direction to act as a compressive spring, the resistance to compression being greater when the mouth is sealed to the liner of the helmet. 
     
     
         39 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claims 34 to 38  wherein the cups are tri-spoke in cross sectional shape between the mouth opening and base. 
     
     
         40 . A shock absorber panel as claimed in anyone of  claims 28 to 39  wherein the elements are in a matrix formation and spaced apart from each other to allow airflow between the elements to help keep head of wearer cool and wherein the elements create a gap between the liner and the head of the wearer to allow airflow between to help keep head of wearer cool.