Anti-fouling faceshield

Abstract

An Anti-fouling Faceshield is disclosed. The faceshield attaches to a conventional motorcycle helmet. The faceshield is particularly suited to competitive dirtbike racing where large amounts of mud are thrown onto riders' goggles in a short period of time. It is preferably spring-loaded so that the rider need simply pull a release lever to cause the faceshield to flip up and away from the face opening of the helmet. The main faceshield further has an upper shield extending upwardly from it to protect the pivot point/hinge area of the mechanism from being fouled with mud and other foreign bodies.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to motorcycle safety accessories and, more specifically, to an Anti-fouling Faceshield.

2. Description of Related Art

Motorcycle and bicycle helmets are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to suit a rider's individual tastes as well as the environment in which the cycle is being ridden. One very challenging environment is off-road or dirt biking, and more particularly, dirt bike racing. This particular environment not only results in special helmet designs, but also special challenges to any existing designs.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional motocross motorcycle helmet 10. The typical helmet 10 has a full-face face shield 12 covering the rider's face inside of the helmet 10. There is also usually a visor 14 extending frontwardly from the top of the helmet 10. The visor 14 is provided to provide sun and wind protection, and to further protect the rider's face when the visor 14 is open. FIG. 2 is a side view of the helmet of FIG. 1, having its faceshield 12 in the “up” position.

The faceshield 12 on the conventional helmet 10 attaches on each side with a ratcheting pivot hinge 16. The ratcheting effect of the hinge 16 provides some (tension-adjustable) resistance to movement of the faceshield 12. Consequently, then the faceshield 12 is placed in the down position, it will stay down; when the faceshield 12 is placed in the up position, it will stay in that position. In order to move the faceshield 12, then, the rider must reach up and push the shield 12 up or down.

When the faceshield 12 is in the up position 12, the face opening 18 formed in the front of the helmet 10 is fully exposed to the front of the helmet 10. This means that the rider's face is fully exposed to the front of the helmet 10. It is this aspect of the conventional design that causes motocross riders problems. It is common that motocross track operators wet down the dirt surfaces prior to a race in order to keep the dust down, as well as to increase the difficulty of the course. As a result, it is natural for a rider's faceshield 12 to become opaque due to excessive amounts of mud being sprayed onto the shield 12 by other riders. This is particularly prevalent at the start line for a race—when the riders first start, they are all in tight, close proximity to one another, and all are spinning their tires to get a quick launch.

Historically, the rider would simply have to flip up their faceshield 12 by hand once it became excessively soiled. Because conventional faceshields 12 do not provide enough clearance between the rider's face and the shield 12 for the rider to wear a pair of goggles underneath the shield 12, the rider's face has historically been exposed to the flying mud once the shield 12 has been raised.

Furthermore, raising the faceshield 12 can be an unwanted distraction to the rider during a particularly challenging stage in a race. The less time that the rider needs to remove his or her hand from the handlebars in order to retract or open the faceshield 12, the safer the process will be.

What is needed, then, is an improved faceshield for cycle helmets that allows the rider to wear goggles underneath the shield as a second layer of mud-proofing, and further makes the opening of the faceshield quicker and easier than the conventional manually-operated shield.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide an Anti-fouling Faceshield. The faceshield should attach to a conventional motorcycle helmet. The faceshield should be particularly suited to competitive dirtbike racing where large amounts of mud are thrown onto riders' goggles in a short period of time. It should be spring-loaded so that the rider need simply pull a release lever to cause the faceshield to flip up and away from the face opening of the helmet. The main faceshield should further have an upper shield extending upwardly from it to protect the pivot point/hinge area of the mechanism from being fouled with mud and other foreign bodies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional motocross motorcycle helmet;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the helmet of FIG. 1, having its faceshield in the “up” position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the helmet of FIGS. 1 and 2 having a preferred embodiment of the anti-fouling faceshield of the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the helmet of FIG. 3, with the faceshield in the “up” position;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views of the faceshield of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the faceshield of FIGS. 3-5 further depicting the preferred actuating mechanism;

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are perspective views of the preferred actuating mechanism; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the faceshield of FIGS. 3-6 depicting the latching mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide an Anti-fouling Faceshield.

The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a side view of the helmet 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 having a preferred embodiment of the anti-fouling faceshield 20 of the present invention attached thereto. Unlike the conventional faceshield, the anti-fouling faceshield 20 has a pivot point 26 that is much higher and further forward than the ratcheting hinge of the conventional design. As a result, the shield 20 sits further away (and higher up) than the conventional shield. This creates enough space between the shield 20 and the rider's face so that a pair of goggles can be worn by the rider beneath the shield 20.

The faceshield 20 is comprised of two main elements—the main mudshield 22, and the upper mudshield 24. The main mudshield 22, like a conventional faceshield, is made from shatter-proof, clear plastic. The upper mudshield 24 is either bonded to, or molded as a single piece of, the main mudshield 22. The upper mudshield 24 may or may not be made from the same material as the main mudshield—since the upper mudshield 24 is not in the rider's line of sight, it is unnecessary that it be transparent. Manufacturing efficiency, however, may dictate that identical materials (to the main shield) be used. If we now turn to FIG. 4, we can continue to examine the features of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the helmet 10 of FIG. 3, with the antifouling faceshield 20 in the “up” position. Since the pivot point 26 is so much higher and farther forward than the conventional ratcheting hinge's pivot point (see FIG. 2), the faceshield 20 flips up and out of the way of the rider's face. The faceshield 20 attaches to the conventional helmet 10 by a hinge apparatus as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The actuating mechanism, (which will be discussed more fully below), includes a spring-loaded mechanism that causes the shield 20 to flip up on its own with the simple activation of a lever provided thereon.

The upper mudshield 24 is positioned very specifically to cover the visor 14 when the shield 20 is either in the “up” or the “down” position. The purpose of this positioning is to cover and protect the operating mechanism of the actuating mechanism (see FIGS. 7A-7C). This prevents that mechanism and the pivot hinge from being fouled with mud whether the shield 20 is down or flipped up. Now turning to FIGS. 5A and 5B, we can continue to examine this unique invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views of the faceshield 20 of FIGS. 3 and 4. The intersection of the upper mudshield 24 and the main mudshield 22 is referred to as the visor pocket 30. The visor pocket 30 is configured so that when the visor 20 is in the “up” position (see FIG. 5B), the helmet visor's leading end will reside within the pocket 30. This arrangement allows for the total removal of the visor 20 from the rider's field of vision without the need for major modification to the helmet or visor.

In its preferred form, the main mudshield 22 will be somewhat angular in shape. There is a front member 32 which comprises the main viewing panel through which the rider sees. There are also a pair of opposing side members (e.g. 34A) extending backwardly from the front member 32. The pivot point 26 is a hinge device between the top edge of the front member 32 and the underside of the helmet visor (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The actuating mechanism (not shown) also mounts to the underside of the visor 20, which will be described more fully below in connection with FIG. 6. The actuating mechanism 28 (see FIGS. 7A-7B) includes a power lifting mechanism to automatically and rapidly pivot the shield 20 up in direction 36 when actuated by the rider. This enables the rider to remove a mud-fouled faceshield from his or her field of vision as quickly as possible. Turning to FIG. 6, we can study the features of this component of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the faceshield 20 of FIGS. 3-5 further depicting the preferred actuating mechanism 28.

The faceshield 20 has a pair of apertures (e.g. 40A) on the upper portions of each side member 34A, 34B. First and second ends 46A and 46B of transverse shield strut (see FIGS. 7A-7C) extend through these apertures 40A, 40B. Typically the ends 46A and 46B would be provided with threaded ends so that an attachment member (e.g. a conventional nut and washer) can be tightened down on the ends 46A and 46B to retain the faceshield 20 to the strut (see FIGS. 7A-7C).

The actuating mechanism 28, only partially depicted here in order to orient it with respect to the shield 22 without obscuring critical elements, includes a mounting bracket 48 attached to the underside of the helmet visor (see FIG. 3). A release lever 52 extends outwardly from the side of the shield 22 so that it is out of the rider's way, yet still easily reached when the ride wishes to pop the shield 22 up. By pushing the release lever 52 forward, the release axle 50 is caused to rotate clockwise (in this depiction), and thereby release the shield 22 to flip up and out of the way of the rider's view. FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C give another view of the novel actuating mechanism structure of the present invention.

The release axle 50 is retained in position by the mounting bracket 48, which is attached to the underside of the helmet visor, but is allowed to rotate therein. At the end of the axle 50 opposite to the release lever 52 is a retaining finger 53. The retaining finger 53 is oriented and shaped such that it can grasp the transverse shield strut 44 when the finger 53 is in the position shown. FIG. 7B shows that when the release lever 52 is actuated, it will cause the retaining finger 53 to lift up and away from the transverse shield strut 44.

Once released from the retaining finger 53, the strut 44 will be free to move in the direction of a biasing force created by a pair of springs (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). When the strut 44 is forced to move by the springs (not shown here), it will result in the faceshield (see FIG. 3) traveling to the “up” position. We will now turn to FIGS. 8A and 8B to analyze the final elements of the device of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of the faceshield 22 of FIGS. 3-6 depicting the latching mechanism. The strut 44 has a latch tab 61 extending backwardly and underneath the helmet visor. A pair of springs 59 (only the left of which is seen here) is interconnecting the shield 22 and the tab 61. When the shield 22 is in the down position as shown, the springs 59 are under tension, and are stretched over the strut 44.

FIG. 8B depicts the faceshield 22 in the up position, after the actuating mechanism (see FIGS. 7A-7C) has released the transverse strut 44. As the shield 22 pivots up, the latch tab 61 slides along a latch plate 63. The latch plate 63 is attached to the bottom side of the helmet visor, and is defined by an upturned edge 65 at its trailing edge. This upturned edge 65 is designed to capture the tip of the latch tab 61 once the shield 22 is in the up position. When the edge 65 captures the tip of the latch tab 61, it will lock the shield 22 in the up position. The springs 59 will cause the latch tab 61 to be pulled upwardly, thereby keeping its tip captured by the upturned edge 65 until the rider pulls down on the latch tab 61. Once the latch tab 61 is released from the upturned edge 65, the shield can be pushed down and locked in that position by moving the release lever (see FIG. 6) forward until the retaining finger (see FIG. 7A) is grasping the strut 44.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

1. A faceshield and actuator combination, said actuator attached to a helmet, comprising:

a faceshield comprising: a main mudshield defining a front surface; and an upper mudshield defining a second surface extending from said main mudshield at an angle oblique to said front surface; and

an actuator pivotally attached to said main mudshield.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises:

a transverse strut defining a pair of opposing ends, each said opposing end extending through a respective aperture formed in said main mudshield.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said transverse strut has a latch tab extending backwardly therefrom.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said actuator further comprises a release axle pivotally attached to the helmet, said release axle terminating in a release lever.

5. The combination of claim 4, further comprising:

biasing means associated with said latch tab and said main mudshield, whereby actuation of said release lever causes said biasing means to drive said main mudshield to pivot about an axis defined by hinge means interconnecting said main mudshield and the helmet.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein:

said front surface comprises a front member, said front member comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, and opposing right and left side edges; and

said main mudshield further comprising a pair of opposing side members extending substantially perpendicularly to said front surface from said right and left side edges.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein said side members further comprise apertures formed therethrough for accepting said ends of said transverse strut therethrough.

8. An anti-fouling faceshield for attachment to a conventional motorcycle helmet, the helmet comprising a shell defined by a face opening at its front side and a visor extending forwardly from above the face opening and terminating in a tip, the faceshield comprising:

a main mudshield defining a front surface; and

an upper mudshield defining a second surface extending from said main mudshield at an angle oblique to said front surface to form a visor pocket between said main mudshield and said upper mudshield, said visor pocket configured to accept said visor tip therebetween; and

an actuator pivotally attached to said main mudshield and further configured to be attachable to the inner top of said helmet adjacent to said face opening.

9. The faceshield of claim 8, wherein said actuator comprises:

a transverse strut defining a pair of opposing ends, each said opposing end extending through a respective aperture formed in said main mudshield.

10. The faceshield of claim 9, wherein:

said transverse strut further comprises a latch tab extending backwardly therefrom; and

said actuator further comprises a latch plate attached to said helmet underside, cooperatively located to engage a tip end of said latch tab.

11. The faceshield of claim 10, wherein said actuator further comprises a release axle pivotally attached to the underside of said helmet, said release axle terminating in a release lever.

12. The faceshield of claim 11, further comprising a retaining finger extending from an end of said release axle opposite to said release lever, whereby movement of said release lever causes said retaining finger to rotate about said release axle.

13. The faceshield of claim 12, further comprising:

biasing means associated with said latch tab and said main mudshield, whereby actuation of said release lever causes said retaining finger to release said transverse strut, whereafter said biasing means is free to drive said main mudshield to pivot about an axis defined by hinge means attached to said helmet.

14. The faceshield of claim 13, wherein:

said front surface comprises a front member, said front member comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, and opposing right and left side edges; and

said main mudshield further comprising a pair of opposing side members extending substantially perpendicularly to said front surface from said right and left side edges.

15. The faceshield of claim 14, wherein said side members further comprise apertures formed therethrough for accepting said ends of said transverse strut therethrough.