Patent Publication Number: US-2017367424-A1

Title: Self-Decoratable Sporting Helmet

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Prior Art 
     The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patents 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Publication  
                   
                   
               
               
                 Patent Number 
                 Date 
                 Patentee 
                 Title 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 US4307471 A 
                 Dec. 29, 1981 
                 Peter J. Lovell  
                 Protective helmet 
               
               
                 US20150135415  
                 May 21, 2015 
                 Robert  
                 Helmet with a  
               
               
                 A1 
                   
                 Oppenheim 
                 Writing Surface, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Markers, and  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Stencil Kit 
               
               
                 US5734994 A 
                 Apr. 7, 1998 
                 David C. Rogers 
                 Ventilated safety  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 helmet with 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 progressively  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 crushable liner 
               
               
                 US5337421 A 
                 Aug. 16, 1994 
                 Yen-Ming Jeng 
                 Air ventilation  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 helmet 
               
               
                 US6848122 B1 
                 Jan. 12, 2004 
                 Joe Meeds 
                 Decorative 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 removable helmet  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 cover for ski, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 snowboard,  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 skateboard and 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 various types  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 of helmets 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Sporting helmets were created for those participating in activities such as biking and skateboarding in order to protect their heads in the foreseeable occurrence of crashes. However, despite their safety benefits, many people choose not to use sporting helmets due to a perception that they are not stylish, which makes their user feel self-conscious. A few solutions to this problem have been ventured, but significant problems still remain. 
     Helmet makers have tried to overcome the problem of making their helmets appear stylish to users by decorating helmets as part of their production process. Manufacturers will commonly adorn their helmets in colors and designs which they believe will appeal to users, which in turn will make the user willing to wear the helmet during sporting activities. This solution, however, leaves much to be desired. First, the designs placed on the helmet by manufacturers are chosen by the manufacturer. Thus, the helmet user is cut out of the design process entirely. Second, the designs placed on the helmet by the manufacturer are permanent, and therefore the user cannot change the appearance of the helmet should their tastes change over time. 
     Artistically inclined helmet users can modify pre-decorated helmets made by manufacturers. However, this solution presents two drawbacks. The chemicals used in many paints and inks are incompatible with the plastics and foams used to construct sporting helmets, and can damage the helmets and reduce their effectiveness in crashes, rendering them unsafe. Further, many art products either do not adhere with any permanence to the plastic shells of helmets, or otherwise become completely irremovable. Both potentialities present problems, as either the user&#39;s designs can be lost through predictable use and contact that occurs in the sporting activities for which helmets are used, or otherwise the permanence of the bond between the art medium and the helmet would render mistakes permanent and designs unalterable. 
     Oppenheim discloses a system of helmets with a dry-erase board like surface, together with dry-erase markers and stencils. This system allows users to decorate their own helmets; yet, by design, the decorations are impermanent. Dry-erase marker ink was created with the explicit intent of not forming a lasting bond with the surface that is marked, so that any markings can be easily wiped or washed away. This impermanence poses a problem in the case of decorating a helmet, as helmets are intended to be handled, put on and taken off, and can expect to be touched and impacted, or to come into contact with sweat or water in the normal course of sporting activities. Thus, any decoration put on Oppenheim&#39;s helmet can be expected to be rubbed off or disturbed during common usage. This shortcoming dissuades the user from investing time and effort in making elaborate decorations on their helmet, as they can anticipate their work will be destroyed during use. Such impermanence limits the potential of designs users would be willing to put on Oppenheim&#39;s helmet. Furthermore, the ease with which Oppenheim&#39;s ink is removed, and the active nature in which sporting helmets are used, presents a high likelihood that in common use of the helmet, some of the ink will be inadvertently removed and end up on the user&#39;s hands, clothes, furniture, or other unintended surfaces, thus causing unwanted messes. 
     Meeds discloses a solution to the problem of making a stylish helmet through the use of a decorative cover for helmets. This idea presents two problems. The first problem is that, like helmets decorated by manufacturers, the helmet user is limited to choosing designs created for them by a manufacturer. Once again, the user is taken entirely out of the creative process of decorating their helmet. The second problem with Meeds&#39; helmet covers is that they can create a safety hazard. His helmet coverings project from the surface of the helmet, and can be made of non-smooth materials. Attaching any such device to the outside of a helmet poses the risk of having the device snag on an object as the helmet user moves past it at high speed. Such an occurrence can cause the helmet user&#39;s head to be pulled in a direction other than their original course of motion, and can cause injury to the user&#39;s neck. 
     Though some have tried to provide a helmet which could satisfy the demands of the user for stylish decoration, all helmets heretofore known suffer from the above discussed disadvantages: 
     (a) The decoration is chosen by a manufacturer, giving the user no input in the creative process of decorating their helmet. 
     (b) The decoration is permanent and unalterable, leaving the user no recourse should their preferred style of decoration change. 
     (c) Many art products used to decorate helmets contain chemicals which degrade and damage the helmet. 
     (d) The artistic medium used to decorate the helmet is easily erased and not waterproof, and thus the user&#39;s decorations can be expected to be destroyed when the helmet is used, and a mess can be expected to be caused. 
     (e) Alternatively, the artistic medium employed by the user to decorate the helmet is permanent, and thus mistakes are unalterable and decorations unchangeable. 
     (f) Coverings of the helmet give the user no input in the decorating process, and pose a safety hazard. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment a helmet, a plurality of markers, a solvent based cleaning solution, and a means for applying the cleaning solution to the helmet, which together allow the user to decorate their own helmet, with decorations that can survive a helmet&#39;s normal usage in sporting activities, and with the ability to change their decorations when they choose to do so. 
     Advantages 
     Accordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a sporting helmet, along with a plurality of markers filled with ink, a solvent based cleaning solution, and a means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution to the surface of the helmet, which together can be used to decorate the helmet, which decoration, when dry, will become waterproof and unable to be wiped off without the use of chemicals or without scratching the surface of the helmet, which decoration can be removed with the use of the solvent based cleaning solution and means of applying the solution to the surface of the helmet, which solvent based cleaning solution does not damage the helmet over the course of the helmet&#39;s useful life, and which together allows the user to decorate their helmet without fear of their decorations being inadvertently erased during normal use of the helmet, and which allows them to redecorate the helmet whenever they choose to do so. Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  shows a sporting helmet. 
         FIG. 2  shows a marker with two tips. 
         FIG. 3  shows a bottle of solvent based cleaning solution. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plastic scouring pad. 
     
    
    
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 10 
                 helmet 
                 12 
                 plastic outer shell 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 marker 
                 16 
                 marker tip 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 18 
                 solvent based cleaning solution in a bottle 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 plastic scouring pad 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4   
     One embodiment of the helmet is illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 . The helmet  10  has a plastic outer shell  12 , the surface of which is able to be decorated with markers  14 . The plastic outer shell  12  in one embodiment is made of ABS plastic. However, the plastic outer shell  12  can be constructed out of any similar material that is rigid enough to provide protection to a helmet  10  wearer&#39;s head in a crash. 
     A plurality of markers  14  are provided with the helmet  10 . These markers  14  are filed with an ink which is used to decorate the plastic outer shell  12  of the helmet  10 . In one embodiment, the markers  14  have two marker tips  16 . One marker tip  16  is chisel shaped, while the other marker tip  16  is pointed, to provide the user with wider artistic possibilities in decorating the helmet  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the ink used in the markers  14  is alcohol-based ink. At present, I believe this embodiment operates most efficiently, as alcohol-based ink forms a tight enough bond with the ABS plastic outer shell  12  of one embodiment that the ink, when dry, becomes waterproof and unable to be wiped off the plastic outer shell  12  without the use of chemicals or without scratching or otherwise damaging the plastic outer shell  12 . However, the chemical bond formed between alcohol-based ink and the plastic outer shell  12  is still weak enough that it can be broken with mild solvents that will not damage the helmet  10  over the course of the helmet&#39;s  10  useful lifetime. The alcohol-based ink of this embodiment also has the advantage of drying quickly, which reduces the likelihood of the ink being inadvertently smudged as the user decorates their helmet  10 . Other embodiments are also satisfactory, but alcohol-based ink provides the ability for the user&#39;s decorations to stand up to the expected rigors of sporting activity without being erased, while at the same time providing the ability to be removed, through use of the solvent based cleaning solution  18 , whenever the user so chooses. 
     A solvent based cleaning solution  18  is provided with the helmet  10 . In one embodiment, the solvent based cleaning solution  18  is stored in a bottle or similar container, with a cap, nozzle, sprayer, or other device to deliver the solvent based cleaning solution  18  when needed. In one embodiment, the solvent based cleaning solution  18  is comprised of isopropyl alcohol, which isopropyl alcohol constitutes 60% of the overall solution, as well as a mild liquid soap, and water. At present, I believe this embodiment operates most efficiently, but other embodiments are also satisfactory. This embodiment of the solvent based cleaning solution has the advantage of having a solvent which is compatible with the alcohol-based ink used in one embodiment, so that decorations on the helmet  10  can be removed quickly and with little rubbing. This embodiment is also advantageous because the low concentration of solvent allows for the solvent based cleaning solution  18  to be used on the helmet  10  repeatedly over the course of the helmet&#39;s  10  useful life without damaging the helmet  10  to the point of rendering it unsafe for use. Additionally, this embodiment is also advantageous because the liquid soap operates as both a lubricant and a surfactant, allowing for quick and easy removal of decorations from the plastic outer shell  12  of the helmet  10 . Finally, this embodiment is advantageous due to the low toxicity of the ingredients used, rendering it safe for use by children with minimal adult supervision. Other embodiments of the solvent based cleaning solution are possible and can perform satisfactorily, such as those using different solvents, different concentrations of solvents, or with different soaps, or with no soaps at all. 
     A means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution is provided with the helmet  10 . In one embodiment, this means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution is a plastic scouring pad  20 . The plastic scouring pad  20  is soft enough that its repeated use will not scratch or otherwise damage the plastic outer shell  12  of the helmet  10 . In other embodiments, the means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution  18  can be steel wool, other abrasive pads, or the user&#39;s hand. 
     Operation—FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4   
     The manner of using one embodiment is as follows. One uses the markers  14  to draw one&#39;s desired decorations upon the plastic outer shell  12  of the helmet  10 . Once the ink dries, the decorations become waterproof and are unable to be wiped away without use of chemicals or without scratching or damaging the plastic outer shell  12  of the helmet  10 . At this point, the helmet is ready for use in sporting activities. 
     If one makes a mistake when decorating one&#39;s helmet  10 , or if one desires for any reason to change the decorations on one&#39;s helmet  10 , the solvent based cleaning solution  18  and a means for a applying the solvent based cleaning solution are employed. One puts a small amount of the solvent based cleaning solution  18  onto the means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution, and then rubs the means onto the plastic outer shell  12  of the helmet  10 . When rubbed onto the plastic outer shell  12 , the solvent based cleaning solution  18  will remove any ink it touches. In this way, one can remove only precise areas of decorations in order to fix mistakes, or can erase the decorations off of large areas of the plastic outer shell  12 , or the entirety of the plastic outer shell  12 . Thus, one can remove previously applied decorations, and can repeat the above described manner of use of one embodiment, so that the helmet  10  can be decorated repeatedly, whenever one so chooses. 
     ADVANTAGES 
     From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of my self-designable sporting helmet become evident: 
     (a) The user is able to decorate their own sporting helmet. 
     (b) The ink dries quickly on the plastic outer shell of the helmet, and thereafter cannot be smudged. 
     (c) Once dry, the ink becomes waterproof and able to stand up to the expected rigors of sporting use without being erased or distorted, so that the user&#39;s decorations can last as long as the user chooses. 
     (d) The solvent based cleaning solution provides the user with the ability to erase mistakes in their decorations, or to erase their prior decorations entirely, allowing for as many opportunities to redecorate the helmet as the user chooses. 
     (e) The markers, ink, solvent based cleaning solution, and means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution are compatible for use with the helmet, and are safe to use without the threat of physically or chemically damaging the helmet to the point of rendering the helmet unsafe. 
     (f) The chemicals used are of low toxicity, and are safe for use by children with minimal adult supervision. 
     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the helmet, markers, solvent based cleaning solution, and means for application of the solvent based cleaning solution of the embodiment allow a user to decorate their own sporting helmet. Furthermore, the ink used to decorate the helmet dries quickly, and becomes waterproof and unable to be removed without the use of chemicals or without damaging the helmet&#39;s surface. Thereby, the user can have a helmet decorated with their own ideas and by their own hand, which will survive the wear and tear expected in sporting endeavors. They will also have the ability, through use of the solvent based cleaning solution, to fix mistakes in their decorations, or erase their previous decorations entirely, whenever they so choose, in order to prepare the helmet to be decorated again and again. 
     The embodiment provides all of the above advantages, while at the same time remaining safe, as the integrity of the helmet is not compromised through use. Also, due to their low toxicity, the use of the different aspects of the embodiment is safe. 
     Although the description above contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the solvent based cleaning solution could use other solvents as its base other than isopropyl alcohol, the markers could have only one tip, or tips of various shapes, and the means for applying solvent based cleaning solution to the helmet could be made of many different abrasive pads. Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.