Helmet Breath Guard

Abstract

A helmet breath guard add-on which is capable of effectively preventing steam formation in a helmet shield, thereby removing inconveniences when wearing a helmet, is disclosed. The breath guard may be made from a flexible yet solid elastomeric material providing for an adequate elastic adjustment, and allowing a fit to a wide variety of different helmet user faces. Preferably, the single piece nature of the breath guard allows for the prevention of leaks for adequate helmet fog reduction. The elastic nature of the material allows the breath guard to generally keep its shape even when distorted from the putting on and the removal of the helmet.

1 ) An impermeable breath guard for a helmet; the helmet comprising a helmet outer shell having an inside surface facing the head of a person wearing the helmet, a substantially transparent face shield attached to the helmet outer shell, and a chin bar disposed below the face shield, the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward a person using the helmet; the breath guard being configured to be operatively inserted into the helmet and to extend from the inside surface of the chin bar toward the face of the person, the breath guard comprising an impermeable material, whereby in use, the impermeable breath guard prevents the breath of the person to pass through the breath guard and contact the face shield and the inside surface of the helmet outer shell. 
     
     
         2 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable breath guard comprises:
 a first portion defining a cavity adapted for receiving the nose of the person;   a second portion extending from the first portion towards the inside surface of the chin bar; and   a third portion extending from the second portion and being adapted to connect the breath guard to the chin bar of the helmet.   
     
     
         3 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 2 , wherein the first, second and third portions of the breath guard form a single element. 
     
     
         4 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 3 , wherein the breath guard is made by extrusion or moulding. 
     
     
         5 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 2 , wherein the third portion comprises at least one fixing element to secure the breath guard to the helmet. 
     
     
         6 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 5 , wherein each fixing element comprises an opening made through the third portion of the guard and adapted to receive a male element extending from the chin bar of the helmet. 
     
     
         7 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 1 , wherein the impermeable material comprises a polymer or a composite which is flexible enough to allow the breath guard to both regain its shape after distortion and prevent moisture from going through. 
     
     
         8 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 7 , wherein the impermeable material comprises silicone or rubber. 
     
     
         9 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion comprises a deformable insert for shaping the first portion to a form of the nose of the person. 
     
     
         10 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 9 , wherein the deformable insert is metallic. 
     
     
         11 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 2 , wherein the breath guard further comprises a fourth portion along a rear edge of the third portion, the fourth portion being adapted to be in contact with the face of the person to improve the impermeability of the guard when in contact with the face of the person. 
     
     
         12 ) The impermeable breath guard of  claim 11 , wherein the fourth portion is a curved portion extending from the rear edge of the third portion. 
     
     
         13 ) A protective helmet, the helmet comprising:
 a helmet outer shell;   a substantially transparent face shield attached to the helmet outer shell;   a chin bar disposed below the face shield, the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward a person wearing the helmet; and   a breath guard being configured to be operatively inserted into the helmet and to extend from the inside surface of the chin bar toward the face of the person, the breath guard comprising an impermeable material to prevent the breath of the person to pass through the breath guard and contact the face shield and the outer shell.   
     
     
         14 ) The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the impermeable breath guard comprises:
 a first portion defining a cavity adapted for receiving the nose of the person;   a second portion extending from the first portion towards the inside surface of the chin bar; and   a third portion extending from the second portion and being adapted to connect the breath guard to the chin bar of the helmet.   
     
     
         15 ) The helmet of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third portions of the breath guard form a single element. 
     
     
         16 ) The helmet of  claim 15 , wherein the breath guard further comprises a fourth portion along a rear edge of the third portion, the fourth portion being adapted to be in contact with the face of the person to improve the impermeability of the guard when in contact with the face of the person. 
     
     
         17 ) The helmet of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one fixing element to secure the breath guard to the chin bar of the helmet. 
     
     
         18 ) The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein each fixing element comprises an opening made through the third portion of the guard and adapted to receive a male element extending from the chin bar of the helmet. 
     
     
         19 ) The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the helmet is a snowmobile helmet. 
     
     
         20 ) The helmet of  claim 13 , wherein the helmet is a modular helmet having the chin bar hingely connected to the outer shell to easily put or remove the helmet.