US4091470A — Collapsible helmet

Claim 1

Independent Claim 356 words

A collapsible helmet adapted to fold between a collapsed nested position and an unfolded developed position comprising a plurality of fan-shaped segments having a circular plate connected to the upper end of each of said segments which are adapted to be superposed one on the other, each of said plates having an aligned aperture therein, a pivot means for pivotally connecting said plates in superposed relationship wherein said segments can pivot between a nested position and developed position, said pivot means comprising a sleeve extending through said aligned apertures, a spring disposed in said sleeve, a cap member disposed over said stacked circular plates, said spring having one end thereof secured to said cap member, an adjusting member extending into said sleeve, said spring having its other end adustably secured to said adjusting member whereby the tension of said spring can be adusted, means for successively training said segments upon unfolding from the nested position, said training means comprises a cut-out portion formed about a peripheral portion of plates, and a complementary claw member, said cut-out portion and complementary claw member being arranged whereby the claw member of one plate engages with the cut-out portion of the next adjacent plate, each of said segments having complementary first and second fastening means disposed along the opposed edge portion which are arranged to be disposed in overlapping relationship in the developed position of said segments, said first and second fastening means each comprises an aperture disposed along one edge of a segment and a complementary projection oppositely disposed along the other longitudinal edge of said segment whereby the aperture of one segmet is adapted to receive a complementary projection of the next adjacent segment in the unfolded position of said segment, and its complementary projection and aperture of said second fastening means being relatively moveable to one another to and having complementary latching means to provide an interlock therebetween, said first fastening means being aperture to restrict circumferential displacement of said segments relative to one another, and said second fastening means being operative to restrict outward displacement of the adjacent segments in the developed position of said helment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 356 words

A collapsible helmet adapted to fold between a collapsed nested position and an unfolded developed position comprising a plurality of fan-shaped segments having a circular plate connected to the upper end of each of said segments which are adapted to be superposed one on the other, each of said plates having an aligned aperture therein, a pivot means for pivotally connecting said plates in superposed relationship wherein said segments can pivot between a nested position and developed position, said pivot means comprising a sleeve extending through said aligned apertures, a spring disposed in said sleeve, a cap member disposed over said stacked circular plates, said spring having one end thereof secured to said cap member, an adjusting member extending into said sleeve, said spring having its other end adustably secured to said adjusting member whereby the tension of said spring can be adusted, means for successively training said segments upon unfolding from the nested position, said training means comprises a cut-out portion formed about a peripheral portion of plates, and a complementary claw member, said cut-out portion and complementary claw member being arranged whereby the claw member of one plate engages with the cut-out portion of the next adjacent plate, each of said segments having complementary first and second fastening means disposed along the opposed edge portion which are arranged to be disposed in overlapping relationship in the developed position of said segments, said first and second fastening means each comprises an aperture disposed along one edge of a segment and a complementary projection oppositely disposed along the other longitudinal edge of said segment whereby the aperture of one segmet is adapted to receive a complementary projection of the next adjacent segment in the unfolded position of said segment, and its complementary projection and aperture of said second fastening means being relatively moveable to one another to and having complementary latching means to provide an interlock therebetween, said first fastening means being aperture to restrict circumferential displacement of said segments relative to one another, and said second fastening means being operative to restrict outward displacement of the adjacent segments in the developed position of said helment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein the sleeve has a laterally extended portion at the top and bottom thereof so that said circular plates cannot be separated therefrom.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is longer than the thickness of all of the stacked plates.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 90 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein the cut-out of the lower plate has an upwardly bent edge portion to define a stop to limit the circumferential movement of said segments, and the next lower circular plate has a cut-out and the uppermost plate a claw, and the plates between said next lower plate and uppermost plate have both a cut-out and a claw whereby the cut-out and claw of next adjacent section co-act to sequentially train the respective segment in unfolding between a nested and developed positions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 65 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 1 wherein each segment has a laterally stepped longitudinal edge portion to define the inner lapped portion, said inner lapped portion having the projection of said first fastening means thereon, and the aperture of said second fastening means, said second fastening means including a slideable plate having a key-hole for latching the projection of said second fastening means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 254 words

A collapsible helmet having a plurality of inwardly curved fan-shaped segments pivotally secured at the top thereof wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of segments having plate portions superposed one on the other, a cap disposed over said superposed plates, said plates being provided with a central aperture disposed in alignment, a sleeve extending through said aligned apertures, a coil spring being disposed in said sleeve, one end of said spring being secured to the inner surface of said cap, a screw extending upwardly into said sleeve, said spring having its other end adjustably connected to said screw, and said plates having complementary cut-out portions and claws disposed about the circumference thereof, whereby the claw of one plate engages the cut-out portion of the next adjacent plate, whereby said claws and cut-out portions cooperate to effect the successive training of the segments between a folded and developed position by effecting the movement of one segment, and a first and second fastening means, said fastening means comprising complementary apertures and projections disposed along the longitudinal edges of the respective segments, and said fastening means including a sliding plate for latching onto the projection of said second fastening means, and a spring for biasing said sliding plate in the latch position thereof, said sliding plate being located on the inner surface of the associated segment, and a collapsible harness installed in said helmet, a chain for securing said harness to said segments, whereby said harness can be readily folded in the nested position of said segments.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 254 words

A collapsible helmet having a plurality of inwardly curved fan-shaped segments pivotally secured at the top thereof wherein the improvement comprises: a plurality of segments having plate portions superposed one on the other, a cap disposed over said superposed plates, said plates being provided with a central aperture disposed in alignment, a sleeve extending through said aligned apertures, a coil spring being disposed in said sleeve, one end of said spring being secured to the inner surface of said cap, a screw extending upwardly into said sleeve, said spring having its other end adjustably connected to said screw, and said plates having complementary cut-out portions and claws disposed about the circumference thereof, whereby the claw of one plate engages the cut-out portion of the next adjacent plate, whereby said claws and cut-out portions cooperate to effect the successive training of the segments between a folded and developed position by effecting the movement of one segment, and a first and second fastening means, said fastening means comprising complementary apertures and projections disposed along the longitudinal edges of the respective segments, and said fastening means including a sliding plate for latching onto the projection of said second fastening means, and a spring for biasing said sliding plate in the latch position thereof, said sliding plate being located on the inner surface of the associated segment, and a collapsible harness installed in said helmet, a chain for securing said harness to said segments, whereby said harness can be readily folded in the nested position of said segments.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 115 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 6 wherein the lower most circular plate is formed with a cut-out, one edge of said cut-out being upwardly bent to form a stop to limit the movement of the said segments, the next circular plate having formed about a peripheral portion thereof a cut-out, and the uppermost circular plate having a claw located on the periphery thereof, and the other intermediate circular plates each having a cut-out portion and a claw disposed about the periphery thereof, the cut-out portions and associated claws of adjacent plate providing inter-engagement therebetween so as to prevent the successive training of the respective segments in moving from a nested and un-nested position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 102 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 7 wherein the second fastening means includes a projection extending inwardly from the inner surface of the outer overlapping portion of said segments, a complementary aperture formed on the inner lapping edge portion of an adjacent segment, and a sliding plate provided on the inner surface of the inner lapping edge portion of said segment, said sliding plate having a key-hole shaped aperture formed thereon, said key-hole shaped aperture being adapted to latch said projection in a locking and unlocking position, and a spring for normally biasing said sliding plate in the latched position thereof.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 45 words

A collapsible helmet as defined in claim 8 wherein said collapsible harness includes an upper and lower ring member, a plurality of circumferentially spaced belts of flexible material interconnecting said upper an lower ring, and shock absorbing means circumferentially spaced about the lower ring member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-05-29	1981-11-28	1982-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-05-29	1985-11-28	1986-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-05-29	1989-11-28	1990-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Collapsible helmet

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