Abstract:
A collectable helmet having two states, a compressed state and an uncompressed state, such that in its compressed state, the collectable helmet appears to similar to traditional collectable helmets and may be displayed as such, and in its uncompressed configuration, appears to be a figure wearing a helmet. The collectable helmet may be designed with a particular theme and may further include features for game play associated with that theme.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to collectable helmets, and more particularly, to collectable helmets with interactive features. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Collectable helmets are well known in the art and are generally comprised of replicas of helmets representing various sports teams or headgear worn by particular athletes. In some known embodiments, the collectable helmets are full-size; that is, they have substantially the same dimensions as the helmets worn by the athletes. In other known embodiments, the collectable helmets are miniature versions of actual helmets. Riddell is a manufacturer of full-size and miniature collectable helmets. 
         [0003]    One common disadvantage in these known collectable helmets is that they are generally intended for display purposes only. That is, while one can pick up the collectable helmet to examine and admire it, the collectable helmet typically does not have any other interesting features other than being a replica of the actual helmet. 
         [0004]    It is desirable, therefore, to provide a collectable helmet that can serve the basic purpose of displaying the helmet, but also includes interactive features. What is further needed is a collectable helmet that can transform into a representation of an athlete wearing the collectable helmet. What is also needed is a collectable helmet that provides a game aspect. What is still further needed is a collectable helmet that provides a game aspect associated with or related to the type or theme of the collectable helmet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    The present invention provides for a collectable helmet in which a figure, such as a representation of an athlete, may be compressed within the collectable helmet. In its compressed configuration, the collectable helmet may be displayed in a manner similar to traditional collectable helmets. Upon activation by a user, the representation of the athlete is released from the collectable helmet such that the representation of the athlete appears to be wearing the collectable helmet. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the figure is comprised of three sections: a first section resembling a head, a second section resembling a torso with arms, and a third section resembling a lower portion of a body, such as a pair of legs with feet, on a base. The figure may be compressed within the helmet such that each of the first section resembling a head, the second section resembling a torso with arms, and the portion of the third section resembling a pair of legs with feet are completely or substantially covered by the helmet. Accordingly, when the figure is compressed within the helmet, the predominant appearance is that of a collectable helmet and a base. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a collectable helmet that includes an associated game play. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play is associated with or related to the type or theme of the collectable helmet. For example, in various embodiments of the present invention, a baseball-themed collectable helmet could include a moveable bat-like object attached to the base for baseball-type game play, a hockey-themed collectable helmet could include a moveable hockey stick-like object attached to the base for hockey-like game play, and a football-themed collectable helmet could include a football-like object that is struck by a moveable object attached to the base that simulates a kicking action. 
         [0008]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play can be accomplished individually or interactively with another user. For example, for individualized play, the baseball-themed collectable helmet may be used in conjunction with a play mat, wherein such play mat resembles a baseball field. The user of the baseball-themed collectable helmet can use the moveable bat-like object attached to the base baseball-themed collectable helmet to strike a ball or disk across the mat. As another example, a user of a first baseball-themed collectable helmet could launch a ball or disk from the base of the first baseball-themed collectable helmet toward a second baseball-themed collectable helmet, and the user of the second baseball-themed collectable helmet tries to strike the ball or disk with the moveable bat-like object attached to the base of the second baseball-themed collectable helmet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play can be accomplished whether or not the figure is compressed into the collectable helmet. 
         [0009]    A more complete understanding the collectable helmet with interactive features will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which will first be described briefly. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a collectable helmet in its expanded position in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a collectable helmet in its collapsed position in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front cross-sectional view of a collectable helmet in its expanded position in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of a collectable helmet in its expanded position in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional view of a collectable helmet in its collapsed position in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a collectable helmet in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top cross-sectional view of the base of a collectable helmet having a game play feature in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the base of a collectable helmet having a game play feature in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a football-version of a collectable helmet in its expanded position that also includes a game play feature and a miniature football accessory in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    The present invention provides a collectable helmet with interactive features. In the detailed description that follows, like reference numbers are used to indicate like elements appearing in one or more of the figures. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a collectable helmet  100  in its expanded configuration having a top portion in the form of a helmet  102 , a first section  110 , a second section  112 , and a third section  114 , wherein the third section  114  comprises a base portion  104  and a lower body portion  116 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the collectable helmet  100  is in its expanded configuration, the externally visible portion of the first section  11  resembles a head, the externally visible portion of the second section  112  resembles a torso with arms, and the externally visible portion of the lower body portion  116  resembles legs with feet. 
         [0021]    The helmet  102  has an interior cavity  120  and a stem  122  extending downward from the top of the interior cavity  120 . The first section  110  and second section  112  are capable of moving longitudinally along the lower body portion  116 . The third section  114  has an interior space  124  capable of substantially receiving the stem  122  such that the stem  122  reaches into the base portion  104  of the interior space  124 . The interior cavity  120  of the helmet  102  is capable of at least substantially covering the first section  110 , the second section  112  and the lower body portion  116  when the collectable helmet  100  is in its compressed (i.e. display) configuration.  FIG. 2  shows the collectable helmet  100  in it compressed configuration. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show cross-sectional views of the collectable helmet  100  in its expanded configuration. The collectible helmet  100  contains a spring  140 , preferably a helical compression spring, having sufficient force to place the collectable helmet  100  into its expanded configuration when the spring  140  is substantially uncompressed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring  140  is oriented concentrically around the stem  122  and is positioned between the top of the interior cavity  120  of the helmet  102  and a rim  142  located within the interior space  124  of the third section  114 . In another embodiment of the present invention, the spring  140  is oriented below the stem  122  such that the stem  122  compresses the spring  140  when the collectable helmet  100  is in its compressed configuration. 
         [0023]    In order to retain the collectable helmet  100  in its compressed configuration, the base portion  104  includes a plate  152  having an opening  154  and a second spring  156 , preferably a helical compression spring, wherein the plate  152  is capable of substantially lateral movement and the second spring  156 , when compressed, has sufficient force to move the plate  152  substantially laterally. The stem  122  has a groove  158  proximate to the end of the stem  122 . As the collectable helmet  100  is placed in its compressed configuration, the end of the stem  122  moves the plate  152  substantially laterally and compresses the second spring  156  sufficient to allow the end of the stem  122  to pass through the opening  154  until the groove  158  substantially aligns with the opening  154 . When the groove  158  and the opening  154  are substantially aligned, the second spring  156  moves the plate  152  (i.e., the edge of the opening  154 ) substantially laterally into the groove  158 , thereby allowing the collectable helmet  100  to be secured in its compressed configuration. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a spacer  190  is utilized to maintain the substantially vertical position of the stem  122 , to limit the distance in which the spring  140  can be compressed and aid in the alignment of the groove  158  with the plate  152  (i.e., the edge of the opening  154 ). The spacer  190  may be oriented concentrically around and exterior to the stem  122  and the spring  140 , or alternatively, concentrically around and between the stem  122  and the spring  140 . Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the end of the stem  122  is rounded and the opening  154  has a beveled edge to allow the end of the stem  122  to pass more easily through the opening  154 . 
         [0024]    The bottom edge of the helmet  102  has a lip  170  and the top of first section  110  has a rim  172  such that the lip  170  is engageable with the rim  172  to prevent the helmet  102  from separating from the first section  110  when the collectable helmet  100  is in its expanded configuration. Also, the bottom of the first section has a second lip  174  and the top of the second section  112  has a plate  176  such that the second lip  174  is engageable with the plate  176  to prevent the first section  110  from separating from the second section  112  when the collectable helmet  100  is in its expanded configuration. Furthermore, the bottom of the second section  112  has a third lip  178  and the third section  114  has a protrusion  180  such that the third lip  178  is engageable with the protrusion  180  to prevent the second section  112  from separating from the third section  114  when the collectable helmet  100  is in its expanded configuration. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the collectable helmet  100  in its display configuration in which the first section  110 , the second section  112  and the lower body potion  116  are all substantially received within the interior cavity  120  of the helmet  102 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the helmet  102  covers substantially all of the first section  110 , the second section  112  and the lower body potion  116 , so as to not distract from the helmet  102  and to substantially appear as if the helmet is resting on the base portion  104 . When the collectable helmet  100  is in its display configuration, the spring  140  is compressed and the plate  152  has retained the stem  122  to maintain the spring  140  in its compressed state. The collectable helmet  100  expands from its display configuration when the plate  152  is moved substantially laterally toward the second spring  156  in order to compress the second spring  156 , and when the plate  152  (i.e., the edge of the opening  154 ) is removed from the groove  158 , the stem  122  is released and the spring  140  is allowed to become uncompressed thereby forcing the helmet  102  upwards and placing the collectable helmet  100  in its expanded configuration. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the collectable helmet  100 . Helmet  102 , first section  110 , second section  112  and third section  114  (which includes base portion  104  and lower body portion  116 ) are separated into two parts in order to aid assembly of the collectable helmet  100 . Helmet  102  includes a rib (not shown, but similar to rib  202 ) which mates with a notch  204  in the rim  172  of the first section  110  to prevent the helmet  102  from rotating around the first section  110 . Similarly, the first section  110  includes a rib  210  which mates with a notch  212  in the plate  176  to prevent the first section  110  from rotating around the second section  112 . And the second section  112  includes a rib  220  that mates with a notch  222  in the lower body portion  116  to prevent the second section  112  from rotating around the lower body portion  116 . It should be understood that the ribs (e.g. ribs  202 ,  210  and  220 ) also serve to increase the strength and rigidity of the forms (e.g. helmet  102 , first section  110  and second section  112 , respectively). 
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the top view of the base portion  104  and  FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the third section  114  of the collectable helmet  100 , wherein each case the base portion  104  includes features for game play. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play relates to the type or theme of collectable helmet  104 . For example, a baseball-themed collectable helmet includes features attached to the base that allow for baseball-type game play. In one embodiment of the present invention, the base portion  104  provides for baseball-like game play wherein the base portion  104  includes a bat-like object  300  that is used in conjunction with a spring  302 , preferably a torsion spring, both of which are secured to the base portion  104  with a shaft  304 . A user pulls back the bat-like object  300  thereby compressing the spring  302  and when released, the spring  302  causes the bat-like object  300  to swing forward. The bat-like object  300  is of suitable shape such that it may be used to strike a disk  306 , ball or other suitable object, without allowing such object to slide beneath the bat-like object  300 . A play mat (not shown) may be utilized to enhance the game play. For example, a play mat depicting a baseball field would be used in conjunction with the baseball-themed collectable helmet. 
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base portion  104  includes a disk retention mechanism  310  and disk release mechanism  312  for propelling the disk  306 , ball or other suitable object. The disk retention mechanism  310  has an opening  314  and the disk  306  is retained by the disk retention mechanism  310  after the disk  306  is passed through the opening  314 . After the disk  306  is retained by the disk retention mechanism  310 , the disk release mechanism  312  is used to push the disk  306  through the opening  314 , the opening  314  being less than the diameter of the disk  306 , and once sufficient force is applied to pass the disk  306  through the opening  314 , the disk  306  is launched from the base portion  104 . 
         [0029]    As mentioned above, the collectable helmet of the present invention can vary in theme.  FIG. 9  shows a football-version of a collectable helmet in its expanded position that also includes a game play feature and a miniature football accessory in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0030]    In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collectable helmet  10  is primarily constructed out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer, which has the qualities of strength, rigidity and durability and is receptive to the addition of pigments. Other materials that have the ability to be injection molded or extruded may also be utilized. 
         [0031]    Having thus described a preferred embodiment of a collectable helmet with play features, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.