Patent ID: 11874604
Assignee: nan
Field: Surface technology, coating (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC G  A  B | IPC A  B  G

Claim 0:
1. A method of forming a design on a helmet, comprising:
applying a design to a clear sheet;
placing the clear sheet against a negative photoresist film to form a masking couple;
exposing the masking couple to UV light to expose and polymerize areas of the negative photoresist film not blocked by the design;
separating the clear sheet from the negative photoresist film;
washing the negative photoresist film with water to remove material within areas of the negative photoresist film that were blocked by the design and create a photoresist mask having an open area in the shape of the design;
without disassembling trim and hardware of a helmet, adhering the photoresist mask to an area on the helmet, the helmet having an existing clear topcoat and paint layer;
securing a protective cover around the helmet except over the photoresist mask;
sandblasting/abrasive-blasting the photoresist mask to etch only portions of the helmet clear topcoat or clear topcoat and paint layer underneath the open area, portions of the existing clear topcoat and paint layer covered by the protective cover not being etched;
applying paint over just the etched portions of the helmet within the open area followed by a clear coat layer/hardener over the paint, the existing clear topcoat and paint layer other than the portions that have been etched being unpainted, and wherein an amount of paint added matches an amount of material that has been removed during the sandblasting/abrasive-blasting process so that a final surface of the helmet is even and smooth from unpainted to painted portions; and
removing the protective cover and photoresist mask from the helmet.