PROTECTIVE FULL FACE HELMET

Abstract

Presented is a protective helmet (10) for use in combat and weapons training using non-lethal training ammunition. The helmet (10) has an attachment unit (36) for contact with the wearer's head, from which the other parts of the helmet (10) are supported. The other two main parts of the helmet are a helmet unit (12) which basically covers the rear half of the user's head, while the front half of the wearer's head is covered by a visor body (14) which includes a transparent face shield (24). Then the visor unit is rotated to an open position, the wearer's face is fully exposed, and when in a closed position, the wearer's face is fully visible to a trainer, and the face shield provides a field of view of greater than 180 degrees.

Description

PRIORITY/CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61358577, filed Jun. 25, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) generally relates to helmets with a face shield, and more particularly to a protective helmet for protection from projectiles during combat simulation.

BACKGROUND

Over the years, leading training authorities for both civilian and military acknowledge that reality-based training is the effective means to prepare individuals for the situations usually experienced in field applications. For combat training of SWAT teams, military, and police, that involves combat simulations using Non-Lethal Training Ammunitions (NLTA). In such training, protective equipment is utilized to prevent the wearer from injury by NLTA. In this field, manufacturers and trainers continue to use inadequate gear, and even repackage the same type of gear never correcting the inherent problems of the helmet or clothing. These problems consist of breathing difficulty, fogging of the visor, lack of communication clarity, inability to observe facial expressions and non-verbal communication, restriction of movement, mis-recognition of training participants and roles, too much protection eliminating the threat of consequence, and limited access to duty equipment. The disclosed technology of the inventors addresses those shortcomings in a protective helmet.

Often students wear helmets that fog and restrict their breathing so much that they become frustrated and want to quit. The training involves the instructor watching the hands and face of student for threat recognition, but to do that the student's face must be visible. The helmet of the disclosed technology solves these types of problems and more.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The function of the disclosed technology of the protective helmet is for use in training with non-lethal training ammunition. It offers complete head and face protection from NLTA projectiles and solves many if not all of the shortcomings of prior art helmets.

The helmet would be used in law enforcement, military or private sector security reality-based training using non-lethal training ammunitions (NLTA) to prepare individuals for situations usually experienced in field applications relating to their professional duties. The use of NLTA includes but not limited to paintball, Ultimate Training Munitions (UTM), Simunition FX, or ATK Force on Force. The helmet can also be used during paint ball use or games during recreational or training venues.

The disclosed technology is a protective helmet that is lightweight, adjustable and which cleans easily. The helmet's visor lifts up for unobstructed debrief communications while maintaining head protection in an active training environment. The helmet visor lens does not fog and offers a complete 180+degree visibility. Facial features and expressions of the user are clearly seen and non verbals can be responded to appropriately. Verbal communications are easily heard when the helmet is donned and breathing problems or claustrophobia of the user are non-existent. The helmet is flexible, so adequate cheek weld on shoulder fired weapons is easily obtained. The helmet may be comprised of three sections, the helmet and the visor and the attachment unit or harness.

The helmet is preferably made of polymers which may be chosen from all thermoplastics, thermo sets, or elastomers used in injection mold plastic. The plastic can be comprised of any polymers like epoxy and phenolic (thermosetting plastics) or nylon, polyethylene or polystyrene (thermoplastic). The plastics can be any variation, type or density of plastics to include plastic, graphite, silicone, rubber, fiberglass, or combinations thereof. The helmet is constructed for the human head of any race, gender or age. The helmet is preferably constructed for one-size-fits-all preferably with an adjustable articulating component. The helmet preferably encloses the human head except for the face area where it is open from the forehead region to the chin area when the visor body is raised.

The helmet is vented with spaces, holes or cutouts. The area of the helmet behind the head preferably can be moved towards or away from the front of the helmet to fit various size heads. This portion of the helmet may be moved by an elastic cloth-type strap, for instance.

The visor is preferably impact rated for any NLTA projectile and is fog resistant. The helmet visor attaches to each side of the helmet and can be raised or lowered by the user at will, by rotation around pivot points on either side of the helmet. The helmet visor locks in the raised and lowered position. The helmet visor is constructed and shaped to reveal the entire face of the user.

The protective helmet of the disclosed technology combines all of following functions or aspects: complete protection of the head and face, light in weight, adjustable, easily cleanable, visor openable while maintaining head protection, anti-fogging, complete 180+ degree visibility, complete observability of facial features and expressions, immediate recognition of verbal communications, reduction of breathing problems or claustrophobia, and flexibility of material.

Both the helmet and visor can be reconfigured, reshaped or reconnected to produce a different helmet design as long as the basic premise of the product still combines all of following functions or aspects: complete protection, lightweight, adjustable, cleans easily, lift able visor while maintaining head protection, anti-fogging, complete 180 degree visibility, complete visual of facial features and expressions, immediate recognition of verbal communications, non-existent breathing problems or claustrophobia, and flexible material. The helmet or the helmet visor could be adapted to be integrated with Kevlar helmets or helmets used by military or SRT/SWAT personnel for NLTA training.

The helmet is designed to be used in conjunction with physical combative protective gear or suits.

The helmet is designed to be worn with a light weight individual hood. This design allows students to share helmets without sharing sweat. The helmet has no cloth or other material inside to hold body fluids and is easily cleaned and passed between users if necessary. The visors can be replaced if scratched or damaged during use.

The device includes a helmet attachment unit, or support harness, which secures the helmet onto a wearer's head. The helmet attachment unit can take a number of forms, including foam pieces which are affixed to the interior of the helmet. One successful type of helmet attachment unit is made of a generally horizontal head band made of plastic which extends around the wearer's head in a 360 degree loop. To this may be attached a crown strap, which is attached to the head band generally in the ear region of the head band and which passes over the top of the wearer's head, from ear to ear. Another part of the helmet attachment unit can be chin strap which is also attached to the headband or to the crown strap, and extends generally from the left ear region to the right ear region in a loop which passes under the wearer's chin. Attached to the headband can be a front adjustment unit which adjusts the headband by changing the diameter of the head band so that it fits securely on a wearer's head. On either side of the head band, in the left and right ear region may be located a left and right hinge post. A visor body is attached to these hinge posts and the hinge posts allow the visor body to rotate upward to open the unit in the front to fully expose the wearer's face.

The protective helmet is made up of two main components besides the helmet attachment unit. These are the helmet unit and the visor body. The helmet unit generally fits on the rear half of the wearer's head, and typically ends at about the mid point of the top of the wearer's head, and extends to below the ears of the wearer, and to a position below the occipital region of the back of the wearer's skull. It may extend further forward on the skull, but may typically end at about the midpoint of the wearer's skull or approximately at a region consistent with the coronal suture on the top of the wearer's head.

Attached to the helmet unit is a visor body which generally covers the front half of the wearer's face. It attaches to the helmet unit, and to the helmet attachment unit, at the pivot points, generally in the ear region of those units. The visor body is configured to rotate from a closed position to an open position. In the open position the face shield portion of the visor body points generally straight above the wearer's head and the wearer's face is completely open in that position. The visor body is made up of several parts which together cover the wearer's full face, forehead, top of the head, chin and under the chin and extends back to the ear region of the wearer.

In the open position, the visor body is configured to expose the wearer's full face, generally from the eyebrows to below the chin, and the full face circumference from about ear to ear. One part of the visor body is a hemispherical upper rear portion which has a curved shape which is consistent with the curved shape of the helmet unit on the back of the wearer's head. These two shapes are consistent so that the visor may rotate backwards and the upper rear portion of the visor will rotate over the hemispherical helmet unit on the back of the wearer's head. Attached to hemispherical upper rear portion is a transparent face shield which extends generally from the wearer's eyebrow to below the wearer's chin and generally from the wearer's ear to the opposite ear.

One configuration of the protective helmet of the disclosed technology includes a brow piece attached to the upper rear portion, with the brow piece extending out over the wearer's features, in a similar manner as the brim of a baseball hat would. In this configuration, the brow piece has surfaces which fit with the transparent face shield in order to form a full face covering over the wearer's face. Part of the purpose of the full face covering is to fully protect the wearer's face from projectiles, and part of the purpose of the full face covering is to allow the wearer's facial expressions to be observed. Since this helmet is used in training and combat simulations, it is important for the trainers to be able to see the response of the wearer in terms of facial expressions and emotions, for recognition and reaction to threats. The visor body includes a lower portion which extends from the pivot point generally over the ear region and extends forward in front of and below the chin region of the wearer. In each of the sections discussed, there are air ventilation holes which allow circulation of air through the helmet. The helmet has a left and right chin extension piece which together form a u-shaped piece which goes in front of and below the wearer's chin. The helmet unit and the visor body come together in a way which leaves no gaps along the side of the helmet for possible entry of projectiles. There is also a chin piece for attachment to the left and right bottom edge of the visor body, along the left and right chin extension piece, for closing the helmet directly below the wearer's chin.

The brow piece and the left and right chin extension pieces generally form a seal against the transparent face shield which in transverse cross section would be generally a semi-cylindrical cross section. The face shield thus forms a closed region in front of the wearer's face which is large enough and sufficiently ventilated so that the wearer's breath does not cause condensation inside the face mask. The visor body also rotates up onto the top of the wearer's head at which time the wearer's entire face is exposed and open.

The field of view provided to the wearer is greater than 180 degrees, so the wearer can use his whole peripheral vision to best advantage in combat simulations.

The protective helmet of the disclosed technology thus is made of a helmet portion which covers roughly the back half of the wearer's head in a visor body which covers basically the front half of the wearer's head and face, with the visor body being pivotable on the pivot points to fully expose the wearer's face.

The purpose of the Abstract is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the inventive concept(s) of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the inventive concept(s) in any way.

Still other features and advantages of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the inventive concept(s), simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out the inventive concept(s). As will be realized, the inventive concept(s) is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the inventive concept(s). Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the helmet of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the helmet showing the chin piece.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the helmet attachment unit of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the helmet with the visor unit in the open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the helmet showing the attachment unit and the helmet unit.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the helmet of the disclosed technology

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventive concept(s) to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the inventive concept(s) as defined in the claims.

Shown in the figures is a preferred embodiment of the protective helmet 10 of the invention. Shown in FIG. 1 are the exterior features of the helmet that are visible from this view. This includes a helmet unit 12 which generally covers the rear half of the wearer's head. The helmet unit 12 could extend to cover more of the wearer's head, but in this embodiment, the helmet unit covers the rear half of the wearer's head from about the sub-occipital region on the back of the scull to a point at approximately the middle top of the wearer's skull, about consistent with the wearer's coronal suture on the top of the head. The helmet unit 12 as well as the rest of the parts of the helmet is preferably made of a high impact plastic.

Attached to the helmet unit 12 is a visor body 14 which is made up of several parts. The helmet unit 12 is generally hemispherical in shape, as it generally contours the back of the wearer's head. The upper rear visor body 22 of the visor body 14 is also hemispheric in shape. It is joined to the helmet unit at a pivot point 16 on each side of the helmet. The upper rear visor body is consistent with the curvature of the helmet unit so that the visor body 14 may rotate backwards and the entire visor body which covers approximately the front half the wearer's head may rotate back. Shown in FIG. 1 is closed position 18. When the visor body is rotated on the pivot points 16, it rotates to an open position which is shown in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 4, in the open position the wearer's entire head from eyebrow to below his chin and throat are open and visible.

FIG. 1 includes a transparent face shield 24. The face shield 24 is preferably made of clear plastic such as Lexan®, but other similar materials with sufficient impact resistance and optical clarity may also be used. Shown in FIG. 1 is a temple piece 48 which is connected to the upper, rear visor body 22, in the ear region 34. The temple piece 48 includes an ear region 34 which has perforations 56 to assist in ventilation and improved hearing for the user. Attached to the right temple piece 48 is a right chin extension piece 30, which extend in front of and below the wearer's chin. A similar left temple piece and left chin extension piece 28 are present on the left side of the helmet. The periphery of the brow piece 26, the temple piece 48 and the chin extension pieces 28 and 30 form a surface to which the face shield 24 is attached and which seals in the air space between the face shield 24 and the wearer's face. The relatively large volume of air thus enclosed helps to prevent fogging. In a preferred embodiment the forward most portion of the brow piece is approximately 4 inches in front of the wearer's forehead, and the forward most position of the chin extension pieces is approximately 3 inches in front of the wearer's chin, with the face shield being approximately 3 inches in front of the wearer's nose.

Shown in FIG. 2 is the same embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, which further shows a chin piece 32 which is attached to the sides of the left chin extension piece 28 and the right chin extension piece 30. Shown in FIG. 2 is the helmet unit 12, pivot point 16, visor body 14 and face shield 24.

FIG. 3 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the helmet attachment unit 36. This unit includes a head band 38 which extends 360 degrees around the wearer's head and has an adjustment knob 44 on the headband 38. Attached at the pivot point 16 is a crown strap 40 which extends over the wearer's head and helps support the weight of the helmet which is attached to the helmet attachment unit. Part of the helmet attachment unit is a chin strap 42 which is shown as being attached to the crown strap 40, but may be attached anywhere on the head band 38 or the pivot points. The chin strap 42 is preferably made of a resilient plastic material.

Shown in FIG. 4 is the helmet 10 with the visor body 14 in the open position 20. In this position, the user's face from approximately the eyebrows to below the chin is fully exposed and open. Shown in FIG. 4, the visor body 14 includes an ear region 34 which generally is consistent with the ear area of the wearer. The helmet unit 12 also includes an ear region 50, and the two of these partially overlap. On the ear region 50, there is an alignment ridge 52. On the ear region 34, there is a positioning slot 54 which when the visor body is rotated to a closed position, the positioning slot 54 engages the end of the alignment ridge 52 and locks the visor body into the closed position. Shown in FIG. 4 is the head band adjuster 44. Visible in FIG. 4 is the front edge 46 of the helmet unit 12, which shows that the helmet unit 12 covers approximately the rear half of the wearer's head.

Shown in FIG. 5 is the helmet attachment unit 36 with just the helmet unit 12 attached to it. Shown is the headband 38 and the chin strap 42, and one pivot point 16.

Shown in FIG. 6 is front view of the disclosed helmet. Shown in this view is the visor body 14, the upper rear visor body 22, the brow piece 26, both pivot points 16, face shield 24, the left chin extension piece 28 and the right chin extension piece 30. The view shown in FIG. 6 shows that the entire face of the wearer is visible through the closed face mask, from approximately the eyebrows to below the chin. The purpose of this full faced exposure is to allow the wearer's face to be seen during combat training simulations. One of the purposes of the helmet is to allow trainers to view the wearer's reactions to unexpected events, to distractions, and to observe emotional indicators on the wearer's face. This is facilitated by the full face exposure of the face shield 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Other figures such as FIG. 1 show that the visor body 14 and the face shield 24 provide more than 180 degrees of field of view for the wearer, so he may fully use his peripheral vision.

While certain exemplary embodiments are shown in the Figures and described in this disclosure, it is to be distinctly understood that the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A protective helmet for protection of a wearer from projectiles, comprising:

a helmet attachment unit for placement of said helmet on a wearer's head;

a helmet unit which is generally hemispheric in shape, and configured to cover a wearer's head generally from a sub occipital region the back of the skull to a front edge located at a region generally at a middle top of a wearer's skull, generally at least at the wearer's coronal suture on the top of the head, said helmet unit extending down the sides of a wearer's head to a position below a wearer's ears;

a visor body attached to said helmet unit and said helmet attachment unit at a pair of pivot points on each side of said helmet, with said visor body configured to rotate from a closed position to an open position, by rotating around said pivot points, and when in said open position configured to expose said wearer's full face generally from eyebrows to the ears, including the chin, with said visor body comprising a hemispherical upper rear portion shaped consistent in shape with a front region of a wearer's skull, configured to extend from about the top of the forehead to the center top of the head, at least past the middle of the wearer's head or said front edge of the helmet unit, and a transparent face shield portion attached to said visor body and extending generally from a wearer's eyebrows to below the wearer's chin and generally from a wearer's ear to his opposite ear.

2. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said helmet attachment unit further comprises a headband configured to encircle a wearer's head in a generally horizontal fashion, and a crown strap configured to pass over the wearer's head generally from an ear region of said headband to an opposite ear region of said headband.

3. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said helmet attachment unit further comprises a chin strap attached to said headband at two places, and configured to extend below a wearer's chin forming a loop, for securing said headgear to said wearer.

4. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said visor body includes a brow piece attached to said upper rear portion, and a left and right chin extension piece extending from said ear region of said upper rear piece to in front of a wearer chin region, with said brow piece extending forward from said upper rear portion of said visor body, with said face shield mounted on an underside and periphery of said brow piece and along the outside of said chin extension pieces.

5. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said helmet unit and said visor come together in a way that leaves no gaps along the side of the helmet for possible entry of projectiles.

6. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said visor body further comprises a chin piece for attachment at a left and right bottom edge of said visor body, for closing off a space below said wearer's chin.

7. A protective helmet for protection of a wearer from projectiles, comprising:

a helmet attachment unit for placement of said helmet on a wearer's head comprising a headband configured to encircle a wearer's head in a generally horizontal loop, and a crown strap attached to said headband and configured to pass over the wearer's head generally from an ear region of said headband to an opposite ear region of said headband, with said attachment unit further comprising a chin strap attached to said headband at two places, and configured to extend below a wearer's chin forming a loop, for securing said headgear to said wearer,

a helmet unit attached so said attachment unit and comprised of a rear cranial unit which is generally hemispheric in shape, and configured to cover a wearer's head generally from a sub occipital region the back of the skull to a point at least at the middle top of a wearer's skull, with a front edge located at a region generally at a middle top of a wearer's skull, generally at least as far forward as the wearer's coronal suture on the top of the head, said helmet unit extending down the sides of a wearer's head to a position below a wearer's ears;

said helmet unit further comprising a visor body attached to said helmet unit and said helmet attachment unit at a pair of pivot points on each side of said helmet, with said visor body configured to rotate from a closed position to an open position, by rotating around said pivot points, and when in said open position configured to expose said wearer's full face generally from eyebrows to the ears, including the chin, with said visor body comprising a hemispherical upper rear portion shaped consistent in shape with a front region of a wearer's skull, configured to extend from about the top of the forehead to the center top of the head, at least past the middle of the wearer's head or said front edge of the helmet unit;

a brow piece attached to and extending forward from said upper rear portion of said visor, and a left and right chin extension piece extending from said ear region of said upper rear piece to in front of a wearer chin region, with a transparent face shield mounted on an underside and periphery of said brow piece and along the outside of said chin extension pieces, said face shield extending generally from a top if a wearer's forehead to below the wearer's chin and generally from a wearer's ear to his opposite ear; and

said visor body further comprising chin piece for attachment at a left and right bottom edge of said visor body in a chin region, for closing off a space below said wearer's chin.

8. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said helmet unit and said visor join together to leave no gaps along the side of the helmet for possible entry of projectiles.

9. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said visor body further comprises a chin piece for attachment at a left and right bottom edge of said visor body, for closing off a space below said wearer's chin.

10. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said visor body extends toward the back of the wearer's head to behind an ear region.

11. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which visor body extends to below a wearer's chin region and covers a wearer's chin on sides and front.

12. The protective helmet of claim 1 which further comprises a chin piece which attaches to said visor body below a wearer's chin.

13. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said face shield is curved and extends around a wearer's face from a left ear region to a right region, and provides at least a 180 degree field of view.

14. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said face shield is directed directly above said wearer's head in said open position.

15. The protective helmet of claim 1 in which said helmet unit covers approximately half of said wearer's head, from a midline of the head from a line ear to ear over the top of the head, rearward to the sub-occipital region.