Abstract:
A system for displaying one or more graphics on a sports helmet, including a strap material of a length which is sufficient to wrap completely around a selected portion of a helmet, with the strap material being flexible and substantially planar. One or more fasteners are included on opposing ends of the strap material, and a loop with one or more substantially flat surfaces is formed by connecting the fasteners to the fasteners included on the opposing end of the strap material. A section of the one or more substantially flat surfaces of the strap material display one or more graphics, and the graphics are positioned outwardly such that the graphics are visible when the material is wrapped around the selected portion of the helmet.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a system for displaying a graphic on a helmet, and more particularly to a system for displaying graphics on a helmet using a strap which attaches to a facemask on a helmet. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Systems currently exist for advertising on a helmet by completely covering a helmet with a decorative material, but there exists a need for, and there is currently no system or method which employs a strap which includes graphics (e.g., advertising materials, names, logos, etc.) which attaches to a facemask on a helmet. 
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]    A system for displaying one or more graphics on a sports helmet, comprising a strap material of a length which is sufficient to wrap completely around a selected portion of a helmet, wherein the strap material is flexible and substantially planar. One or more fasteners are included on opposing ends of the strap material, wherein a loop with one or more substantially flat surfaces is formed by connecting the one or more fasteners to the one or more fasteners attached to the opposing end of the strap material. A section of the one or more substantially flat surfaces of the strap material displays the one or more graphics, wherein the one or more graphics are positioned outwardly such that the one or more graphics are visible when the strap material is wrapped around the selected portion of the helmet. 
         [0006]    These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
         [0007]    The disclosure will provide details in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap with button fasteners in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap with a fabric hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®) in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap with magnetic fasteners in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap which includes a clip for holding a mouthpiece. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a sticker-type device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a clip in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Manufacturers and retailers often promote their products with attention-grabbing advertisements, names, logos, etc. The present principles may employ a strap with advertising, names, logos, etc. thereon which may attach to a helmet by wrapping around one or more portions of the helmet to display advertisements, names, logos, etc. The strap may include printed graphics, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) screen, a video screen, or any suitable method of displaying graphics. The strap may also include a clip for attaching a mouthpiece to the strap in accordance with illustrative embodiments. 
         [0017]    Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent the same or similar elements and initially to  FIG. 1 , a diagram of a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap is illustratively depicted in accordance with the present principles. In one embodiment, a sports helmet (e.g., Lacrosse, Football, Hockey, etc.) includes a shell  102 , a facemask  104 , and a chin bar  108 . A strap  108  including advertisements, names, logos, etc. may be attached to the chin bar  106  by wrapping the strap  108  around the chin bar  106  such that a substantially flat surface including the advertisements, names, logos, etc. on the strap  108  faces outwardly such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc. are visible on the substantially flat surface of the strap  108 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap with one or more button/snap fasteners is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In an illustrative embodiment, a strap  208  including advertisements, logos, etc.  210  may include one or more button/snap fasteners  212  in accordance with the present principles. The fasteners  212  may be employed to secure the strap around a portion of a helmet (not shown) such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc.  210  are visible on the substantially flat outward-facing surface of the strap  208 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap with one or more fabric hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In an illustrative embodiment, a strap  308  including advertisements, logos, etc.  310  may include one or more fabric hook and loop fasteners  312  in accordance with the present principles. The fasteners  312  may be employed to secure the strap around a portion of a helmet (not shown) such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc.  310  are visible on the substantially flat outward-facing surface of the strap  308 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap with one or more magnetic fasteners is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In an illustrative embodiment, a strap  408  including advertisements, logos, etc.  410  may include one or more fabric hook and loop fasteners  412  in accordance with the present principles. The fasteners  412  may be employed to secure the strap around a portion of a helmet (not shown) such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc.  410  are visible on the substantially flat outward-facing surface of the strap  408 . 
         [0021]    It is noted that although a printed graphic is displayed on the strap  108 ,  208 ,  308 ,  408  in  FIGS. 1-4 , it is contemplated that an LED screen, video screen, other display means, or a music/video playing device may also be employed according to the present principles. In embodiments which include an LED screen, video screen, other display means, or a music/video playing device which require power for the display or music/video playing device to function, the display may be powered by a battery inside the screen, a battery pack attached to the screen, solar power, or any other means known in the art which may be employed to power a device including a screen. In embodiments which include a music/video playing device, the device may be integrated into the strap, may be inserted into a pocket on the strap, or attached in any manner known in the art to the strap. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In one embodiment, a sports helmet (e.g., Lacrosse, Football, Hockey, etc.) includes a shell  502  and a facemask  504 . A strap  508  including advertisements, names, logos, etc. may be attached to the facemask  504  by wrapping the strap  508  around two or more bars on the facemask  504  such that a substantially flat surface including the advertisements, names, logos, etc. on the strap  508  faces outwardly such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc. are visible on the substantially flat surface of the strap  508 . 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a strap is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In one embodiment, a sports helmet (e.g., Lacrosse, Football, Hockey, etc.) includes a shell  602  and a facemask  604 . A strap  608  including advertisements, names, logos, etc. may be attached to the facemask  604  by wrapping the strap  608  around two or more bars on the facemask  604  such that a substantially flat surface including the advertisements, names, logos, etc. on the strap  608  faces outwardly such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc. are visible on the substantially flat surface of the strap  608 . 
         [0024]    In one embodiment according to the present principles, a mouth guard holder  612  may be included as either a removable or a permanent element of the strap  608 . In embodiments where the mouth guard holder  612  is removable from the strap  608 , the mouth guard holder  612  may be attached by any means for temporary attachment of objects known in the art (e.g., snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, magnets, etc.). 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a system for advertising on a helmet using a sticker-type device is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In one embodiment, a sports helmet (e.g., Lacrosse, Football, Hockey, etc.) includes a shell  702  and a facemask  704 . A sticker-type device  708  including advertisements, names, logos, etc. may be attached to the facemask  704  by attaching the sticker-type device  708  to two or more bars on the facemask  704  or a chin guard (not shown) such that a substantially flat surface including the advertisements, names, logos, etc. on the sticker-type device  708  faces outwardly such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc. are visible on the substantially flat surface of the sticker-type device  708 . 
         [0026]    The sticker-type device  708  may be attached by sticking opposing ends of the sticker-type device to each other, or may be attached directly to the helmet facemask  704  or chin guard (not shown). It is noted that the entire back of the sticker-type device  708  may be peel-and-stick, water-dip, etc., may be made of any suitable material (e.g., paper, vinyl, silicone, etc.), and may include a mouth guard holder in some embodiments according to the present principles. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a diagram showing a system for advertising on a helmet using a semi-rigid clip is illustratively depicted in accordance with one embodiment of the present principles. In one embodiment, a sports helmet (e.g., Lacrosse, Football, Hockey, etc.) includes a shell  802  and a facemask  804 . A semi-rigid clip  808  including advertisements, names, logos, etc. may be attached to the facemask  804  by clipping the semi-rigid clip  808  around two or more bars on the facemask  804  such that a substantially flat surface including the advertisements, names, logos, etc. on the semi-rigid clip  808  faces outwardly such that the advertisements, names, logos, etc. are visible on the substantially flat surface of the semi-rigid clip  808 . A side view of the semi-rigid clip  810  is illustratively depicted according to the present principles. 
         [0028]    It is noted that the semi-rigid clip may be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic, vinyl, silicone, etc.), may be substantially rigid, may be completely rigid, may include a hinge for easy attachment, and may include a mouth guard holder in some embodiments according to the present principles. 
         [0029]    Having described preferred embodiments of a system and method for reducing latency time with cloud services (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments disclosed which are within the scope of the invention as outlined by the appended claims.