Foldable helmet
View Patent ↗A foldable helmet is provided. The helmet includes a plurality of struts hingedly interconnected thereby enabling the struts to splay out from a closed packed state. Each strut includes a hinge along a length of the strut for folding the strut and a plurality of cutouts allowing the strut to bow in a direction opposite a fold direction of the hinge.
1. A foldable helmet comprising a plurality of struts being hingedly interconnected thereby enabling said plurality of struts to splay out from a closed packed state, wherein each strut of said plurality of struts comprises:
(a) at least one additional hinge along a length of said strut for folding said strut;
(b) a plurality of cutouts in said strut allowing said strut to bow in a direction opposite a fold direction of said at least one additional hinge; and
(c) on each side of at least one of said at least one additional hinge, a ratchet mechanism for adjusting a size of said strut.
2. The foldable helmet of claim 1 , wherein splaying out said plurality of struts bows said plurality of struts.
3. The foldable helmet of claim 2 , wherein splaying and bowing of said plurality of struts locks the helmet in a usable shape.
4. The foldable helmet of claim 1 , wherein at least one end portion of at least one of said plurality of struts is prism-shaped or triangular-shaped.
5. The foldable helmet of claim 1 , wherein at least one of a front end portion or a back end portion of said plurality of struts interlock when said plurality of struts are splayed open.
6. The foldable helmet of claim 1 , wherein the helmet comprises a flat rectangle in said closed packed state.
7. The foldable helmet of claim 1 , further comprising a strap system.
8. The foldable helmet of claim 7 , wherein said strap system comprises two portions, each of said two portions being attached to a different struts of said plurality of struts.
9. The foldable helmet of claim 8 , wherein pulling on said two portions of said strap system splays out said plurality of struts and opens the helmet.
10. The foldable helmet of claim 1 , further comprising a foldable visor attached to front ends of said plurality of struts.
11. A method of donning a foldable helmet, comprising steps of:
(a) providing a foldable helmet comprising a plurality of struts being hingedly interconnected, said foldable helmet having at least two states, a closed packed state and an open state, each strut of said plurality of struts comprising:
i. at least one additional hinge along a length of said strut for folding said strut; and
ii. a plurality of cutouts in said strut allowing said strut to bow in a direction opposite a fold direction of said at least one additional hinge; and
iii. on each side of at least one of said at least one additional hinge, a ratchet mechanism for adjusting a size of said strut;
(b) unfolding said helmet by rotating distal portions of said plurality of struts relative to proximal portions of said plurality of struts about said hinged interconnections;
(c) placing said helmet on a head;
(d) pulling downward on a left outermost of said plurality of struts and on a right outermost of said plurality of struts; and
(e) said helmet not fitting said head, adjusting a length of at least one strut by means of at least one of said ratchet mechanism;
thereby enabling said plurality of struts to splay out from said closed packed state to said open state.
12. The method of claim 11 , additionally comprising a step of bowing said plurality of struts by splaying out said plurality of struts.
13. The method of claim 12 , additionally comprising a step of locking the helmet in a usable shape by splaying and bowing of said plurality of struts.
14. The method of claim 11 , additionally comprising a step of providing at least one end portions of at least one of said plurality of struts prism-shaped or triangular-shaped.
15. The method of claim 11 , additionally comprising a step of interlocking at least one of a front end portion or a back end portion of said plurality of struts when said plurality of struts are splayed open.
16. The method of claim 11 , additionally comprising a step of providing the helmet comprising a flat rectangle in said closed packed state.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a strap system.
18. The method of claim 17 , additionally comprising a step of providing said strap system comprising two portions, each of said two portions being attached to a different struts of said plurality of struts.
19. The method of claim 18 , additionally comprising a step of splaying out said plurality of struts and opening the helmet by pulling on said two portions of said strap system.
20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a foldable visor attached to front ends of said plurality of struts.