Abstract:
A helmet jacket for covering and protecting a helmet and for substantially and releasably enclosing the volume inside the helmet to allow the covered helmet to function as a sealed carrying and storage container. The jacket may include elastic segments that define respective constricted openings through which the chin straps of the helmet extend on opposed sides of a releasable fastening element so that the chin straps may be used to carry the helmet while the fastened jacket material substantially encloses the volume inside the helmet to define a storage volume within the helmet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to helmet covers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Helmets are rugged devices that are designed to absorb severe impacts while protecting the wearer&#39;s head. However, helmets are also ornamental items that are often fancifully adorned with elaborate paint designs and coveted appliqués. Thus, it is desired to avoid any scarring of a helmet during manual transportation of the helmet, such as when carrying the helmet while traveling in a car or airplane. U.S. Pat. No. 6,711,752 describes a cover for encompassing and protecting a helmet. A helmet cover may also present various decorative, ornamental, or informational designs, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,881. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in the following description in view of the drawings that show: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a helmet jacket showing the inside helmet-contacting surface. 
       FIG. 2  is a view of a helmet encased with the helmet jacket of  FIG. 1  showing the outside surface of the jacket. 
       FIG. 3  is a lock and locking clasp fastening element arrangement as may be used for one embodiment of a helmet jacket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present inventor has recognized that when a helmet wearer is manually transporting a helmet, he or she will usually carry additional items such as eye goggles, gloves, music players and related equipment (mp3, etc.), keys, cell phones, sunglasses, money, identification, etc. The present inventor has innovatively developed the present invention not only to protect a helmet during manual transportation, but also to transform the helmet into a portable storage space. When a helmet is inserted into the claimed helmet jacket, users can store valuables in the sealable enclosure established by the jacket within the confines of the padded helmet volume, thereby protecting items from damage, theft, precipitation, and loss. The present invention makes effective use of a heretofore insecure and generally wasted space within the helmet, and it can eliminate the need for the user to carry a second container, such as a purse or bag. The invention also makes effective use of the helmet chin straps to facilitate grasping or hanging the assemblage. 
   Referring now to the drawings, the present invention provides a helmet jacket  10  for enclosing and protecting a helmet  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the helmet jacket  10  is comprised of a helmet cover material  11  having an upper section  12 , a lower section  13 , a first side section  14 , and a second side section  15 , an inner side  19 , and an outer side  18 . The cover material  11  may be cotton, polyester, or other suitable material and can be composed of a flexible or expandable fabric. The cover material fabric can include padding to help protect the helmet  50  from damage, such as chipping, if dropped. The cover material fabric can include metal interlacing or metal mesh to increase its strength if desired. The cover material  11  can conform to the helmet&#39;s shape in a form fitting manner or it may have a somewhat loose fit, thereby allowing the helmet jacket  10  to be used with virtually any helmet shape. The cover material  11  can include indicia  70  such as decorative designs, lettering, graphic designs, or photographs on the outer side  18 . The cover material  11  can include a pouch  17  which can be attached to the inner side  19  or the outer side  18  of the cover material  11 . 
   The helmet  50  can include a connectable chin strap  51  secured to opposed sides of the helmet  50  and extending away from the helmet  50 . The helmet  50  includes a neck opening  52  where the wearer&#39;s neck is generally positioned while wearing the helmet  50 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , elastic segments  20  on the cover material  11  may be formed at the first side section  14  and the second side section  15 . The elastic segments  20  can be created using methods such as creating folds  21  in the cover material  11  in a rippled pattern. Additionally an elastic band  22  can be inserted into the folds  21  to enhance the elasticity of the folds  21 . The elastic bands  22  may be rubber inserts, draw strings, folded material, or springs in various embodiments. The elastic segments  20  function to gather the respective side section of the jacket  10  around the respective end of the helmet chin straps  51 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Fastening elements  30  are shown formed at the upper section  12  and the lower section  13  of the cover material  11 . The fastening elements  30  may be of any known type, such as hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, zipper elements, buckle elements, draw strings, magnets, and locking members. Opposed portions of the fastening elements  30  on the upper section  12  and lower section  13  are separated to allow the helmet  50  to be inserted into the jacket  10 , and then are fastened together to allow the elastic segments  20  to gather around the respective chin strap  51  ends, thereby substantially enclosing the volume inside the helmet  50 . The fastening element  30  may include locking members such as a lock  34  and locking clasp  33 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The fastening elements  30  releasably secure the upper  12  and lower section  13  together to allow selective access to the interior of the helmet  50 . 
   The ability to securely fasten the upper and lower section of the cover material  11  together provides unique security features heretofore not found in helmet covers. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when using locking members such as a lock  34  and locking clasp  33  as the fastening elements  30  used to join together the upper and lower sections ( 12  and  13  respectively) of cover material  11 , unauthorized wearing of the helmet  50  can be prevented or deterred. With the fastening elements  30  locked together, the helmet neck opening  52  is securely closed off, as shown in  FIG. 2 , and the helmet cannot be worn. Where the cover material  11  is made of interlaced metal or metal mesh, the enclosed volume and stored items are hidden from view and secured from pilferage. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the cover material&#39;s upper section fastening element  31  and lower section fastening element  32  are joined together, the elastic segments  20  constrict, forming respective constricted openings  23  on opposing sides of the joined fastening elements  30 , and the cover material  11  forms an enclosure  40  for substantially encasing the helmet  50 . The helmet chin straps  51  may protrude through the constricted openings  23  to function as a grasping element. 
   When the cover material pouch  17  is attached to the outer side  18  or external surface of the cover material  11 , the pouch  17  remains external to the enclosure  40 . This provides quick access to items in the pouch  17  without the need to reopen the enclosure  40 . Alternatively, when the pouch  17  is attached to the inner side  19  of the cover material  11 , the pouch  17  is positioned within the enclosure  40 . When a helmet  50  is within the enclosure  40 , the pouch  17  provides a storage pocket positioned between the helmet  50  and the inner cover material  11 . 
   The helmet jacket can be used with a wide range of helmets such as motorcycle helmets, race car helmets, skiing and snow boarding helmets, cycling helmets, skating helmets, hockey helmets, football helmets, baseball helmets, softball helmets, construction helmets, etc. 
   While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.