TECHNICAL FIELD
The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of helmets,
and, more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a
helmet that can be worn over a turban / hair bun.
5
BACKGROUND
Helmet is a protective device worn on the head to provide protection from various
kinds of impact. Helmets are used in a wide range of applications such as, but not
limited to, recreational activities, sports, construction, and defence applications
10 such as police and military activities.
One of the common problems with the conventional helmets is that they cannot be
worn by the people wearing turban / hair bun on their head. For example, it is
widely known that majority of men in Sikh community wear a turban / hair bun to
15 represent their faith. Due to the shape of turban / hair bun, it is difficult for them
to wear the helmet on their head. This is a subject of concern as the turban / hair
bun by itself fails to provide the necessary protection which is offered by the
helmet.
20 Moreover, a lot of men from the Sikh community join the defence forces. It is
commonly known that in combat situations, high level of protection is required
against various ballistic and non-ballistic impacts. Currently, the Sikh soldiers use
ballistic turbans / hair bun as a means for protection. However, the ballistic
turbans / hair bun are not capable of providing the necessary protection which is
25 offered by a ballistic helmet.
In view of the above, there remains a need for a novel and inventive helmet that
can overcome the above limitations.3
OBJECT OF INVENTION
An aspect of the present invention provides a helmet;
Another aspect of the present invention provides a helmet that can be worn over a
5 turban / hair bun; and
Another aspect of the present invention provides a ballistic helmet that can
provide protection against various ballistic and non-ballistic impacts.
10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a helmet for
wearing over a turban / hair bun is disclosed. The helmet may include a shell that
is configured to arrange over the turban / hair bun worn by a user. The shell may
be shaped similar to the shape of the turban / hair bun so as to cover the turban /
15 hair bun when worn by the user.
According to an embodiment, the helmet may be a ballistic helmet. In case of a
ballistic helmet, the shell may be made of a ballistic material. The ballistic
material may be selected from the group consisting of High-performance
20 polyethylene (HPPE), Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)
fabric, aramid fabric, high performance materials like nylon or the like. The
ballistic helmet may be capable of providing protection against various ballistic
and non-ballistic impacts.
25 According to an embodiment, the shape of the shell may be made similar to the
shape of turban / hair bun at the time of moulding the shell. According to another
embodiment, the shell may have a modular structure such that the shape of the
shell can be adjusted as per the requirement of the user.4
According to an embodiment, the shell may be configured to support a frontal
shroud and side rails for mounting various kinds of accessories. Such accessories
may help the user in combat scenarios.
5 It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not
restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
10 So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention
can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly
summarized above, may have been referred by embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended
drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore
15 not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other
equally effective embodiments.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth
above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed
20 description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the helmet with a provision for turban / hair bun on top of
the shell;
25 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the helmet as per FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the helmet as per FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of helmet as per FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the helmet with a provision for hair bun on the backside
of shell; and5
FIG. 6 is a front view of the helmet as per FIG. 5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While the present invention is described herein by way of example using
5 embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not
limited to the embodiments described, and are not intended to represent the scale
of the various components. It should be understood that the detailed description
thereto is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but
on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
10 alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claim. As used throughout this description, the word “may” is used in a
permissive sense (i.e. meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory
sense, (i.e. meaning must). Further, the words “a” or “an” mean “at least one” and
the word “plurality” means “one or more” unless otherwise mentioned.
15 Furthermore, the terminology and phraseology used herein is solely used for
descriptive purposes and should not be construed as limiting in scope. Language
such as “including”, “comprising”, “having”, “containing” or “involving” and
variations thereof, is intended to be broad and encompass the subject matter listed
thereafter, equivalents, and additional subject matter not recited, and is not
20 intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Likewise, the
term “comprising” is considered synonymous with the terms “including” or
“containing” for applicable legal purposes. Any discussion of documents, acts,
materials, devices, articles and the like is included in the specification solely for
the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or
25 represented that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were
common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention.
In this disclosure, whenever a composition or an element or a group of elements is
preceded with the transitional phrase “comprising”, it is understood that we also6
contemplate the same composition, element or group of elements with transitional
phrases “consisting of”, “consisting”, “selected from the group of consisting of,
“including”, or “is” preceding the recitation of the composition, element or group
of elements and vice versa.
5
The present invention is described hereinafter by various embodiments. This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment
is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully
10 convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the following
detailed description, numeric values and ranges are provided for various aspects
of the implementations described. These values and ranges are to be treated as
examples only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In addition, a
number of materials are identified as suitable for various facets of the
15 implementations. These materials are to be treated as exemplary, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a helmet that can be worn over
a turban / hair bun. The helmet may provide protection to the people wearing a
20 turban / hair bun over their head. It is commonly known that people in certain
communities, such as the Sikh community, wear a turban / hair bun on their head.
The turban / hair bun is associated with the religious sentiments, and therefore it
is kept worn throughout the day. Due to the presence of turban / hair bun, it
becomes difficult for them to wear the conventional helmets, as the conventional
25 helmets are made to directly fit on the head. The helmet described herein tackles
this problem and can be worn over the turban / hair bun thereby providing
additional protection to the wearer.
Further, Sikh soldiers in the defence forces require high level of protection against7
various ballistic and non-ballistic impacts during combat situations. Currently, the
Sikh soldiers use ballistic turbans as a means for protection. However, the ballistic
turbans are not capable of providing the necessary protection. Therefore, an
embodiment of the present invention may provide protection to Sikh soldiers
5 against various threats faced during a combat.
It should be noted that the helmet may be worn by any person wearing a turban /
hair bun. For the purpose of explanation, the helmet has been designed in such a
manner that it arranges over the turban / hair bun. Further, it will be apparent to a
10 person skilled in the art that there may be slight variation in the design of the
helmet depending on the various types of turbans / hair bun.
Various embodiments of the present invention are exhibited in the drawings.
Specifically, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict various views of an embodiment of the
15 present invention wherein the provision / protrusion / bulge for turban or hair bun
is provided on the top of the shell of helmet.
As per an alternate embodiment of present invention, FIG. 4 depicts a side view
of the helmet wherein the provision / protrusion / bulge for turban or hair bun is
20 provided on the top of shell, but also slightly towards the front of the helmet.
As per another embodiment of present invention FIGS. 5 and 6 depict various
views of the helmet wherein the provision / protrusion / bulge for hair bun is
provided on the backside of shell of helmet.
25
Further, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that there may also be
other variations in the design of helmet different from or slightly similar to the
designs mentioned in above embodiments, depending on the various other types
of turbans / hair bun.8
Hereinafter, the helmet for wearing over a turban / hair bun is described in detail.
The helmet for wearing over the turban / hair bun (hereinafter referred to as ‘the
helmet’) may include a shell. The shell may be designed in such a manner so as to
arrange over the turban / hair bun worn by user. For the purpose of explanation,
5 the shell may have a shape similar to the shape of the turban / hair bun. However,
it should be noted that there may be slight variation in the shape of shell
according to the different shapes of turbans / hair bun available. Such shape of the
shell may enable the helmet to cover the turban / hair bun properly. In this way,
the helmet may protect the head of the user wearing the turban / hair bun, and
10 provide additional protection to the user.
As per a preferred embodiment of present invention, the helmet may be a ballistic
helmet. The ballistic helmet shell may be made up of, but not limited to only,
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabric, aramid fabric,
15 high performance-high tenacity material like nylon etc. Such helmets provide
protection several ballistic and non-ballistic threats, i.e. 7.62 x 39, 7.62 x 51,
7.62x 25, 5.56 x 45, 7.62 x 54 calibers, blunt impacts, concussive blast/shock
waves from explosions etc.
20 In an embodiment, the shell may further support a shroud at the front portion. The
shroud may be used to mount certain accessories on the helmet. Moreover, the
shroud may have a standard configuration to support standardized accessories.
For example, the standardized accessories may include Night Vision Devices,
binoculars, cameras, goggles, visors etc. It will be apparent to a person skilled in
25 the art that such accessories may help the user in combat scenarios.
In an embodiment, the helmet shell may have appropriate provisions to mount
accessories without needing to make a hole therein. A 360-degree twist
mechanism may be provided in harness, enabling enhanced stability and uniform9
head clenching.
In an embodiment, the shell may further support side rails. The side rails may
have standard slotted track (as per MIL 1913 and STANAG 2324) to provide easy
5 one hand mounting of standard picatinny rails, camera, lights etc.
In an embodiment, the helmet may have a provision to attach a nap-protector
behind the shell as per requirement of the user. The nap protector may be attached
to protect the neck area of the user from ballistic and non-ballistic threats.
10
A person skilled in the art would acknowledge that sweating would be prevalent
in such helmets that are worn over turbans / hair bun, resulting in increased
perspiration rate and eventually increasing the risk of fungal growth therein. In an
embodiment, the present helmet may have anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-
15 bacterial characteristics, ensuring zero risk of fungal, microbial or bacterial
growth. As per a specific embodiment, the inner harness system in present helmet
meets MIL 810G anti-fungal rating “zero” requirement.
As per another embodiment of present invention, a suspension system of fabric of
20 the helmet may exhibit moisture wicking characteristics, enabling the resultant
moisture due to perspiration and other means to wick away, keeping the helmet
odour free. As per a specific embodiment, the suspension system of fabric of the
helmet exhibits moisture wicking characteristics as per AATCC TM 198–2010.
25 Various modifications to these embodiments are apparent to those skilled in the
art from the description. The principles associated with the various embodiments
described herein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the description
is not intended to be limited to the embodiments but is to be providing broadest
scope of consistent with the principles and the novel and inventive features10
disclosed or suggested herein. Accordingly, the invention is anticipated to hold on
to all other such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the
scope of the present invention and appended claims

We Claim:

1. A helmet for wearing over a turban or hair bun, the helmet comprising a
shell, configured to arrange over the turban or hair bun of a user,
5 wherein the shell has at least one protrusion at different portions thereon,
depending on the various kinds of turbans or hair buns.
2. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helmet is a ballistic helmet
comprising a ballistic shell.
10
3. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion or bulge is
formed at the time of molding the helmet shell.
4. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion or bulge is
15 formed via a modular arrangement.
5. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the shape of the shell is
made similar to the shape of the turban or hair bun.
20 6. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the shell is configured to
support at least one of a frontal shroud and side rails for mounting accessories.
7. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the shell may be made of
materials such as UHMWPE fabric, aramid fabric, or high performance-high
25 tenacity materials like nylon.
8. The helmet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shell protects users from
several ballistic and non-ballistic threats such as 7.62 x 39, 7.62 x 51, 7.62 x 25,
5.56 x 45, 7.62 x 54 calibers, blunt impacts, concussive blast/shock waves from12
explosions.
9. The helmet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shroud may have a standard
configuration to support standardized accessories such as Night Vision Devices,
5 binoculars, cameras, goggles and visors.
10. The helmet has claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the shell is configured to
mount accessories without making holes therein.
10 11. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein a helmet harness system
is configured to have a 360-degree twist mechanism.
12. The helmet as claimed in claim 6, wherein the side rails may have a
standard slotted track to provide one hand mounting of standard picatinny rails,
15 camera and lights.
13. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the shell is configured to
have at least one nap-protector thereon.
20 14. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the helmet is anti-fungal,
anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.
15. The helmet as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein a suspension system of
fabric of the helmet is moisture wicking.