Helment protector for rucksack - Patent Application 20010017308

Helment protector for rucksack

United States Patent Application 20010017308

Kind Code:

A1

This rucksack is noteworthy in that it comprises, from its top flap, which is designed to close the rucksack, a textile means (3) configured to surround the helmet and keep it in place, said textile means comprising one or more areas (3a) attached by stitching or other means to the upper flap (2) of the rucksack and at least one area of temporary fastening (4) to quick-fastening means (5) connected to said flap.

Representative Image:

Inventors:

Le Gal, Yann (Isere, FR)

Application Number:

09/790125

Publication Date:

08/30/2001

Filing Date:

02/21/2001

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Export Citation:

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Assignee:

Lafuma S.A.

Primary Class:

224/651

Other Classes:

224/650, 224/655

International Classes:

(IPC1-7): A45F003/04

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

WALL MARJAMA & BILINSKI (101 SOUTH SALINA STREET, SYRACUSE, NY, 13202, US)

Claims:

1. A rucksack that comprises, from its top flap, which is designed to close the rucksack, a textile means (3) configured to surround the helmet and keep it in place, said textile means comprising one or more areas (3a) attached by stitching or other means to the upper flap (2) of the rucksack and at least one area of temporary fastening (4) to quick-fastening means (5) connected to said flap.

2. The rucksack as claimed in claim 1, in which the structure of the textile means is such as to give it an elastic capacity of deformation.

3. The rucksack as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, in which the textile support (3) has several arms, for example 4 arms (3b-3c-3d-3e), more particularly arranged in pairs (3b-3c) (3d-3e), in opposition and fastened to opposite lines of the flap forming a cap, the connections between the arms being by means of broad loops (3g) through which the shell of the helmet can be seen, and in which said arms of the textile support are attached to the flap by stitching (7) or any equivalent means, the attachment between the front arms (3b-3c) optionally being curvilinear, and in which at the rear of the textile means corresponding to the rear of the rucksack is at least one temporary quick-fastening means (5).

4. The rucksack as claimed in claim 3, in which the textile means (3) is extended at the rear to form a fifth arm (3f) to which the quick-fastening area is connected.

Description:

[0001] The invention relates to a device for protecting and storing safety helmets for rucksacks and climbing sacks.

[0002] For people who engage in mountain sports and trekking, on foot or by bicycle, it is more and more important to follow safety rules and in particular to wear a helmet.

[0003] This raises the problem that this helmet can be an awkward product or object that gets in the way when not worn directly by the user. This is frequently the case when resting or taking transport, for example.

[0004] 1. Prior Art

[0005] In accordance with known practice, and to avoid losing the helmet, helmets are attached by clasps or straps to rucksacks but this means that they are constantly swinging about. This circumstance is inappropriate because in the first place it is a nuisance when wearing the rucksack, and moreover as it swings about it can strike objects, cause slight shock, and scratch or damage, for example, the visible outer surface of the helmet.

[0006] 2. Object of the Invention

[0007] The object of the invention was to find a solution to these problems given the fact that a safety helmet is an incompressible volume.

[0008] Storing the helmet inside the rucksack is hardly an option because it would take up so much space to the detriment of other objects. Storing it on the side in a pocket with an appropriate protective net is not an option either, as it would form a substantial bulge on the side of the rucksack and thus be inconvenient. Besides, existing pockets are not appropriate for such storage.

[0009] The Applicant's approach was therefore to work toward a new design of climbing or expedition rucksack capable of incorporating the helmet while allowing for the volume of the sack and of its upper end where the closing flap is situated.

[0010] According to a first characteristic, the rucksack is noteworthy in that it comprises, from its top flap, which is designed to close the rucksack, a textile means configured to surround the helmet and keep it in place, said textile means comprising one or more areas attached by stitching or other means to the upper flap of the rucksack and at least one area of temporary fastening to quick-fastening means connected to said flap.

[0011] According to another characteristic, the structure of the textile means is such as to give it an elastic capacity of deformation.

[0012] These characteristics and others will become evident in the course of the description.

[0013] In order to clarify the object of the invention which is illustrated in the figures of the drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an expedition rucksack or climbing rucksack in which the upper flap that closes the interior of the bag possesses a textile means for protecting a safety helmet and keeping it in position.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 from the rear.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view with the safety helmet removed and the textile means still secured and laid flat.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 3 .

[0018] To explain the subject of the invention in more concrete form, it is now described in a non-limiting manner illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

[0019] The climbing or expedition rucksack is denoted as a whole by ( 1 ). This sack can be of any configuration and volume, with appropriate arrangements for storage. Conventionally the sack is closed by a flap ( 2 ) forming a cap of any configuration and size, the attachment of the flap to the body ( 1 a ) of the sack being effected by any means such as a quick closure, a zipper, laces or the like.

[0020] According to the invention, the flap ( 2 ) forming a cap at its visible upper end is designed to accept a textile means ( 3 ) with areas of attachment ( 3 a ) fixed relative to said flap in areas ( 2 a ) and at least one area of temporary quick fastening ( 4 ) with a means ( 5 ) connected to the cap-forming flap.

[0021] More specifically, the textile means ( 3 ) can be pulled away to a limited and controlled extent from the plane of the cap-forming flap to create a storage space and volume allowing the insertion of a safety helmet ( 6 ) in order to protect it. Said helmet conforms by its peripheral outline ( 6 a ) to said cap-forming flap ( 2 ) and, if necessary, allows the contents of the sack to fit to a greater or lesser extent into the internal volume of said helmet.

[0022] In addition, according to the invention the textile means is advantageously made of an elastically deformable material such as to create a tension that will keep the helmet firmly on the upper end of the rucksack.

[0023] According to the invention, the textile support has, in an advantageous embodiment, several arms, for example 4 arms ( 3 b - 3 c - 3 d - 3 e ), more particularly arranged in pairs ( 3 b - 3 c )( 3 d - 3 e ), in opposition and fastened to opposite lines of the flap forming a cap. The connections between the arms are by means of broad loops ( 3 g ) through which the shell of the helmet can be seen. Said arms of the textile support are attached to the flap by stitching ( 7 ) or any equivalent means. The attachment between the front arms ( 3 b - 3 c ) is optionally curvilinear. At the rear of the textile means corresponding to the rear of the rucksack is at least one temporary quick-fastening means ( 5 ). The width (L 1 ) between the two rear areas of attachment ( 3 d - 3 e ) of the textile means to the flap is such that the safety helmet can be slid in. On the other hand, the textile means ( 3 ) is extended at the rear to form a fifth arm ( 3 f ) to which the quick-fastening area is connected. In other words, said area comprises a male or female fastening means ( 5 a ) attached to the textile means and a complementary female or male fastening means ( 5 b ) attached to the cap-forming flap.

[0024] More generally, the textile means is permanently attached to the cap-forming flap by n arms, two, three, four or more and by at least one arm that includes the temporary fastener, in such a way that the assembly and combination of these various fixed or detachable arms allows the helmet to be inserted or removed and held in position by exploiting the elasticity of the woven or nonwoven material of the textile support.

[0025] The areas of connection between the arms have a more or less pronounced curvilinear configuration.

[0026] Thus, according to the invention, the safety helmet is securely held under all circumstances. It fits into the general volume of the climbing or expedition rucksack. It takes only a moment to put it in position and generates no additional volume at the top or such as to cause the user inconvenience in handling the rucksack.

[0027] It is worth stressing also how easy it is to fit the textile support to the top of the upper flap of the rucksack. The configuration of the textile support in n arms is suitable for all profiles of cap-forming flaps on rucksacks. The number of arms is not important and includes fixed areas and at least one openable area through which the abovementioned helmet can be removed or inserted.