US3423759A - Protective and sound attenuation helmet - Google Patents

Description

Jan-28, 1969 F. A. CATROPPA ETAL 3, 9

PROTECTIVE AND SOUND ATTENUATION HELMET Filed Nov. 25, 1966 Sheet 4 of2 INVENTORS FRANK A CATROPPA SIDNEY HIRSCH ATTORNEY Jan. 28, 1969 F. A. CATROPPA ETAL 3, 23,759

PROTECTIVE AND SOUND ATTENUATION HELMET Filed Nov. 25, 1966Sheet 2 of 2 INVENTO FRANK, CA P SIDNEY RS ATTORN EY United States Patent 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a novel and improved protective helmet that can be readily and effectively adapted to selectively exclude external environmental noise. The improved helmet includes a hard outer shell of Fiberglas or other suitable material, an inner energy absorbent shell, a headband liner which is secured to the inner surface of the energy absorbing shell and which includes annular portions that extend downwardly about the ear area of the wearer, and ear cups which are remova'bly secured in the aperture of each annular ear portion of the liner and which include a relief port that is selectively opened or closed to the exterior environment.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties therein or therefor.

Prolonged exposure to high levels of background and environmental noise often become highly distracting and unbearable in the performance of complicated, technical and exacting tasks. This is particularly the case for pilots of helicopters and other types of aircraft. Although various types of protective helmets have been devised in the past, considerable difficulty has been experienced heretofore in providing a noise attenuating protective helmet which is relatively simple in design and yet highly reliable and effective in operation.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved helmet which incorporates the important protective features of presently used helmets and at the same time provides selective sound attenuation control.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved protective aircraft helmet having noise attenuating earcups that can readily be detached from the helmet assembly when environmental noise levels are not objectionable.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 with the visor in its lowered eye shielding position and with one earflap and earcup removed;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the visor control knob shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view which illustrates the manner in which the control knob of FIGS. 1 and 2 is removably secured to the eye shielding visor.

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing, it will be noted that the improvedprotective helmet 3 of the present invention is generally hemispherical in shape with portions cut away as at 5 on its opposite sides about the ears of the pilot or person wearing the helmet. The outer protective shell 7 of the helmet is preferably constructed of a hard fiberglass reinforced plastic or resinous substance or any other suitable material. An inner shell which is preferably constructed of a styrofoam energy adsorbent material is secured to the inner peripheral surface of the outer shell 7 in any suitable conventional manner. The nylon injection molded visor cover 9 is mounted on the exterior surface of the shell 7 and spaced therefrom by visor track members which are secured to and extend along the outer surface of shell 7 generally upwardly and rearwardly from opposite sides of the temple protection area of the helmet. The upper edge of the visor cover 9 is preferably curved inwardly so as to engage the outer surface of the helmet shell 7 and thereby form a narrow enclosure between the shell 7 and the visor cover 9. Theslot 13 in the visor cover 9 extends upwardly and rearwardly from a centrally located point above the lower edge of the cover. The thickness of the visor cover about the edge of theslot 13 is preferably increased as shown at 15. As will be more apparent hereinafter, this increased thickness of the visor cover 9 aboutslot 13 minimizes damage to the cover as thevisor slide 23 is operated back and forth therein. Opposite flanged edges of thetransparent visor 19 are slidably disposed in grooves 21 in the track members such that the visor is movable between a fully retracted position within the enclosure between the shell 7 and the visor cover 9 and a position in which it extends downwardly from the enclosure in front of the eyes of the pilot.

The visor locking mechanism andslide 23 is removably secured to thevisor 19 between its oblonglower extremity 25 and its juxtaposedflange portion 27 in a keyhole shapednotch 29 that extends downwardly from the upper edge of thevisor 19. Thus, theslide 23 is securely attached to thevisor 19 when its oblong extremity is oriented at right angles to the axis ofkeyhole notch 29 and is readily detached from the visor when the oblong extremity is aligned with the axis ofnotch 29. Thestem 31 which extends upwardly from theoblong extremity 25 throughslot 13 in visor cover 9 is preferably rectangular in cross-section so as to engage opposite sides of the embossedslot 13 as it moves up and down therealong. The upper end ofstem 31 is externally threaded to receive the complementary threads of the slide locking button orknob 33. The lower surface ofknob 33 is preferably generally concave in contour so as to readily engage the outer surface of the visor cover 9 whenknob 33 is screwed downwardly onstem 31. The nylon washer or the like 35 is preferably positioned onstem 31 between the embossedslot 13 in cover 9 andknob 33. The upper end ofstem 31 is also internally threaded to receive the locking screw or the like 37 which normally prevents removal ofknob 33 fromstem 31.

The conventionaladjustable headband 39 is secured to the inner surface of shell 7 of thehelmet 3 in any suitable manner and includes the annular downwardly extendingearflap portions 41. Theearcups 43 are removably positioned in the openings 45 in theearfiap portions 41 preferably by the hook andpile fastening devices 47. Sound absorbing foam material or the like is secured to and lines the inner peripheral surface of each earcup. The soundattenuation relief port 49, which is formed in eachearcup 43, is opened or closed at the discretion of the pilot by placement or removal of the plastic cap or the like 51 on or off theearcup projection 53 that defines the port. The elongatedflexible extension 55 on eachcap 51 is adapted as shown to be secured about therelief port projection 53 in order to minimize the possibility of misplacing or losing the cap.

In the operation and use of thehelmet 3, thevisor 19 is moved upwardly and downwardly in the grooves of track members that space the visor cover 9 from the helmet shell 7 between its fully retracted position within the protective enclosure 9 and its eye shielding position in front of the eyes of the pilot. In so doing, the rectangularly contoured stem ofslide 31 readily rides up and down in the embossedslot 13 without injury or damage to the visor cover 9. Theslide 23 and the attachedvisor 19 are locked in any selected position along theslot 13 by tightening the button orknob 33 down onstem 31 and thereby clamping the visor cover 9 between the flanged portion ofslide 23 and the concave lower surface ofknob 33. When the pilot desires to exclude or attenuate environmental noise, he inserts and fastens theearcups 43 in the earflaps of the helmet by means of the hook andpile fastener devices 47. Removal or placement of thecaps 51 over theearcup relief ports 49 permits ready partial restoration of ear contact with the external environment.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A protective helmet for an aircraft pilot comprising:

(a) a hard Fiberglas shell that is contoured to fit over the pilots head;

(b) a layer of energy absorbent material secured to the inner surface of the Fiberglas shell;

(c) a headband liner secured to the inner surface of the layer of energy absorbent material, said headband liner including generally annular portions that extend downwardly about the ears of the pilot;

(d) an ear cup removably secured within each annular portion of the headband liner by means of a plurality of hook and pile fastening devices, each said ear cup having a sound relief port therein;

(e) a sound absorbing foam liner secured to the inner peripheral surface of each ear cup;

(f) and a removable cap which normally closes the sound relief port in each ear cup and which includes a projecting tab that is secured to the ear cup about the sound relief port therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,354,524 10/1920 Timmons 2-6 2,286,843 6/1942 Catalane et al 2-3 2,902,692 9/1959 Christy et al 23 3,005,203 10/1961 Aileo 23 3,262,125 7/1966 Bowen 26 3,335,720 8/1967 Aileo 26 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 1,259,571 3/1961 France.

JAMES R. BOLER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 2209

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