US3797040A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Helmet construction
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A protective-type helmet expressly for use by a motorcyclist and unique in that a pair of manually controlled spring-loaded doorlike lids or ear flaps are hingedly installed for coaction with hearing holes located in line with the user''s ears. When fully open, the ear flaps stay put until intentionally closed by the wearer. Being spring-biased and correctly aligned and pivotally mounted they stay normally closed. Each door or flap embodies a suitable rubber gasket inside to provide and to insure a reliable airtight seal while the motorcycle is in motion. A smaller but similar spring-loaded pivoted door or flap is mounted on the median lower portion of the helmet''s rear wall to permit an appropriate normally spring-loaded door to be used in a convenient manner to fasten and anchor the helmet on a part of the motorcycle which is not being ridden. All three doors may be basically alike in construction and general manner of use.
Inventors
- 👤 J Caldwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:13
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/16; A42B3/166; A42B3/0406; A42B3/0413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
For use by a motorcyclist, a helmet having a hearing hole in at least one side wall, an exteriorly disposed hole opening and closing flap normally closing said hole and capable of being swung from a normally closed position to an open position, said flap having a finger grip to facilitate achieving manual opening and closing positions of said flap, an adapter bracket means mounting said flap on said bracket to permit said flap to be manually opened at will in keeping with the requirements at hand, and means mounting said bracket on said helmet in position so that said flap covers said hole in the closed position, said adapter bracket comprising a plate which is superimposed upon a surface of the helmet partly encompassing said hole, said plate having a pair of outstanding lugs, said flap having a pair of mounting and hinging ears straddling and pivotally joined to the respectively cooperable lugs, a substantially C-shaped resilient leaf spring positioned between said lugs, said spring having a curled free end portion, a marginal edge portion of said flap having spring-biased and retentive operating contact with said curled free end portion, said flap having an interior surface with a recess providing a pocket, and a compressibly resilient packing ring lodged fittingly in said pocket and providing an airtight seal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
For use by a motorcyclist, a helmet having a hearing hole in at least one side wall, an exteriorly disposed hole opening and closing flap normally closing said hole and capable of being swung from a normally closed position to an open position, said flap having a finger grip to facilitate achieving manual opening and closing positions of said flap, an adapter bracket means mounting said flap on said bracket to permit said flap to be manually opened at will in keeping with the requirements at hand, and means mounting said bracket on said helmet in position so that said flap covers said hole in the closed position, said adapter bracket comprising a plate which is superimposed upon a surface of the helmet partly encompassing said hole, said plate having a pair of outstanding lugs, said flap having a pair of mounting and hinging ears straddling and pivotally joined to the respectively cooperable lugs, a substantially C-shaped resilient leaf spring positioned between said lugs, said spring having a curled free end portion, a marginal edge portion of said flap having spring-biased and retentive operating contact with said curled free end portion, said flap having an interior surface with a recess providing a pocket, and a compressibly resilient packing ring lodged fittingly in said pocket and providing an airtight seal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
For use by a motorcyclist, a helmet having a special purpose hole in a wall portion at a prescribed point, an adapter plate conformingly abutting an exterior surface of said helmet and having an internally screw-threaded collar conformingly fitting into and marginally lining said hole, an exteriorly threaded ring nut screwed into said collar from a point inwardly of the helmet and provided with an abutment flange abutting an interior surface portion of said helmet and positioning and retaining said collar and adapter plate in a given functioning position, a cap-like hole capping flap normally covering and closing said hole, means operatively securing said flap to said adapter plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
For use by a motorcyclist, a helmet having a special purpose hole in a wall portion at a prescribed point, an adapter plate conformingly abutting an exterior surface of said helmet and having an internally screw-threaded collar conformingly fitting into and marginally lining said hole, an exteriorly threaded ring nut screwed into said collar from a point inwardly of the helmet and provided with an abutment flange abutting an interior surface portion of said helmet and positioning and retaining said collar and adapter plate in a given functioning position, a cap-like hole capping flap normally covering and closing said hole, means operatively securing said flap to said adapter plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The construction defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said flap has an interior recess provided with a compressibly resilient sealing ring abutting said collar and ring nut, said adapter plate having an upper marginal portion provided with a pair of spaced outstanding supporting lugs, an oriented marginal portion of said flap having spaced companion spring-biased ears straddling said lugs and hinged thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
THe construction defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein said ring nut cooperatively fitting into said collar constitutes the means for positioning and operatively holding the entire assembly in place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The hole covering flap defined in claim 1, and wherein said plate is adjacent to and is positioned in alignment with said hole, said lugs being disposed in opposed spaced parallel alignment, said spring being positioned between said lugs, and rivet means uniting and riveting said spring and adapter plate to the apertured exterior surface portion of said helmet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
The hole covering flap defined in claim 1, and wherein said helmet has a central rear portion which is provided with an optionally usable hole which is adapted to be used for temporarily mounting and fastening said helmet on an appropriate support member when the helmet is not being used, and a complemental spring-loaded flap pivotally mounted on an exterior surface of said rear portion adjacent to and covering said hole when in its normal closed position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination defined in claim 4, and wherein said adapter plate is provided with a pair of spaced outstanding lugs, said flap having a pair of mounting and hinging ears straddling and pivotally joined to and cooperable with said lugs, a J-shaped leaf spring positioned between said lugs and having one end portion abutting and secured to a coacting portion of said adapter plate, and a second free end portion with which an adjacent portion of said flap is cooperatively engageable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |