US4995117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
(Airlock) bicycle helment with adjustable ventilation systems and accessories
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-11-16
•
Granted: 1991-02-26
•
Expires: 2009-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A bicyclist helmet has a outer shell; an inner buffer liner; forward facing baffle controlled air inlets; side baffle controlled air inlets; rear discharge baffle controlled exhaust air outlets; attaching ear cups; attaching fairing cone; attachments and baffles are provided to further enhance the helmet's aerodynamic properties, as well as providing a more comfortable helmet when riding in cold or foul weather.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Mirage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:25
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/06; A42B3/066; A42B3/0493; A42B3/16; A42B3/28; A42B3/281; A42B3/283; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S2/00; Y10S2/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A helmet comprising an outer helmet shell and a buffer liner attached to the inner surface of said outer helmet shell, said helmet further comprising, (a) front-facing ventilation openings arranged in a circular, daisie-like pattern, at a front of said outer helmet shell, as a means for ventilation, (b) and singular vent openings on a left and a right side, of said outer helmet shell, (c) and rearward facing exhaust openings comprising a plurality of apertures arranged in a louver-like pattern, at a rear of said outer helmet shell, (d) chin straps attached to said helmet at the sides and at the rear of said outer helmet shell for the purpose of maintaining said helmet on a wearer's head, (e) said liner being provided with openings corresponding to the openings of said outer helmet shell for ease of airflow to a wearer's head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A helmet comprising an outer helmet shell and a buffer liner attached to the inner surface of said outer helmet shell, said helmet further comprising, (a) front-facing ventilation openings arranged in a circular, daisie-like pattern, at a front of said outer helmet shell, as a means for ventilation, (b) and singular vent openings on a left and a right side, of said outer helmet shell, (c) and rearward facing exhaust openings comprising a plurality of apertures arranged in a louver-like pattern, at a rear of said outer helmet shell, (d) chin straps attached to said helmet at the sides and at the rear of said outer helmet shell for the purpose of maintaining said helmet on a wearer's head, (e) said liner being provided with openings corresponding to the openings of said outer helmet shell for ease of airflow to a wearer's head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A helmet according to claim 1, further including an inner movable baffle with a plurality of openings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The helmet of claim 2, wherein said baffle is attached to said shell by a centralized nut and bolt system allowing for a partial rotation of said baffle being attached to the inner surface of said outer helmet shell and directly over the front-facing vent openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The helmet according to claim 2, wherein said baffle an elongated hole to accommodate faceted portions of a control knob, said facets being equal in proportion to a center hole in said baffle for means of rotating the baffle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A helmet according to claim 2, further including a post constituting an extension of and being an integral part of the inside of the outer helmet shell, said post fitting into a slot adjacent to a peripheral edge of said baffle, and constituting means for restricting a distance the baffle will travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said singular ventilation openings on the left and right side of said helmet, being placed slightly facing forward, are covered by forwardly and rearwardly sliding baffles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A helmet according to claim 6, wherein said sliding baffles are located on the inside of the outer helmet shell, each of said baffles being held to the inside of the outer helmet shell by a template permanently attached to the inside of the outer helmet shell, and said template being located directly over and on the inside of each of the side vent openings and each template having openings corresponding in size, shape and location to the openings on each of the side vent openings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A helmet according to claim 7, wherein said templates have a central depression protruding inwardly away from the inner walls of said outer helmet shell, said central depression forming controlled passageways, the length of the baffle and the width of the template depression are of equal proportions thereby restricting said baffle from moving in a vertical direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A helmet according to claim 8, wherein the thickness of said baffle and the depth of said depression of said template are of equal proportions, the length of said depression on the template is twice the width of the baffle, therefore allowing said baffle to slide rearwardly on said helmet, and allowing the openings in the right side of and the left side of said outer helmet shell to be opened without obstruction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A helmet according to claim 9 further comprising a slot on each side of said outer helmet shell, said slot being located just behind each said side ventilation opening and originating behind said vent openings and elongated towards the rear of said outer helmet shell, said slots being equal in length to the width of said baffles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A helmet according to claim 10, wherein said baffle is attached to a post, one end of said post protruding through said slot at the rear of the side vent openings, said post having a screw threaded end passing to the outside of the outer helmet shell and connected onto an actuating knob, said knob being manipulated by the wearer to slide the baffle forward and rearward to open and close the side vent openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A helmet according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of holes arranged in a louver-like pattern at the rear of said helmet shell constitute means for exhausting air entering the front and side vent openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
A helmet according to claim 12, further including an inner movable rear baffle located directly over the rear louver-like openings of said helmet and on the inside of said outer helmet shell, said baffle having matching openings corresponding to the louver-like openings at the rear of said outer helmet shell, and said baffle having means for moving the same up or down in a vertical direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
A helmet according to claim 13, further comprising two templates permanently attached to the rear inside wall of the outer helmet shell, said templates being located to the left and to the right of said rear baffle and are slightly overlapping said rear baffle and thereby attaching said rear baffle to said outer helmet shell without restricting vertical movement of the rear baffle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
A helmet according to claim 14, further comprising a detent system at the rear inside wall of said outer helmet shell, said system including two detent depressions in said outer helmet shell, both said detent depressions being located one above the other, the said detent system further includes a raised spur and an actuating knob, said spur being an extension of, and an integral, part of the said actuating knob, the spur and actuating knob are permanently adhered to the center of rear said baffle on the baffle's outer most surface, said rear exhaust openings further include a slit at a center of the rear louver-like openings with said actuating knob extending through said slit to the outside of said outer helmet shell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising ear cups removably attached to said helmet, said ear cups having a system for retention to the helmet, said system including two tabs split down the middle, the split meeting with a hole at a center of each tab, and said tabs on said ear cups engaging two pegs on each side of the said outer helmet shell to lock the ear cups into place.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A helmet according to claim 16, wherein the ear cups have two additional facets each at an outside of each ear cup, said facets engaging a lower outside edge of said outer helmet shell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A helmet according to claim 1, further comprising a conical-shaped fairing attached to the rear of said outer helmet shell, said fairing providing aerodynamic advantages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
A helmet according to claim 18, wherein said fairing has a hooking system with multiple hooks engaging the outer helmet shell at three places at the rear of said outer helmet shell, two hooks engaging the helmet at the two upper most, and central louver-like openings, a third bottom hook engaging the helmet at a lower edge of said outer helmet shell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A helmet according to claim 19, wherein said bottom hook has means for wrapping around the bottom edge of the outer helmet shell and curving slightly inwardly into the helmet, and constituting an extension of and being one piece with a bottom wall of said fairing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
A helmet according to claim 20, having on said fairing and slightly to the rear of the bottom hook a raised surface resembling a button being also an extension of, and being one piece with the bottom outside wall of the fairing cone, said button when pressed inwardly into the fairing acts as a lever to move said bottom hook away from the helmet and disengaging the fairing from the helmet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
A helmet according to claim 21, and further including a semicircular cut in the wall of said fairing and surrounding said actuating button and thereby allowing said button free motion when depressed into the fairing and by so doing disengaging the bottom hook from said outer helmet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-25 | 1994-08-27 | 1995-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-25 | 1998-08-27 | 1999-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-08-27 | 2003-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |