"DECORATIVE ϊtEMO VABLE HELMET COVER

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates, generally, to helmet covers. More particularly the invention relates to helmet covers that are removable and allow an unlimited number of interchangeable decorative patterns and logos to be worn by the user over the protective portion of the helmet.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Protective helmets are utilized in a variety of activities in order to protect the wearer from head injuries. Such activities include motorcycling, skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, auto racing, football, hockey, baseball, and other activities in which there is a reasonably high likelihood of injuries if the head is not protected in some way.

[0003] The problem is that the appearance of helmets, for example motorcycle helmets, are generally nondescript or even unpalatable. Individual bikers, for example, cannot customize their helmets to stand out from other bikers with helmets, nor can bikers identify a specific group of bikers amongst other groups. Thus, for the above reasons many individuals may choose not to wear helmets at the risk of their own safety.

[0004] U.S. Patent 6,061,836 discloses an elastic fabric cover designed for use with conventional hard hats, constructed of an elastic material, the cover stretches to fit over and contracts to fit the contour of a hard hat structure with one stiffened segment located on the main body. However, the presence of a sole stiffened segment, for the purpose of displaying visual media or a logo thereon, fails to make the helmet cover any more attractive. Moreover, the invention's purpose was to avoid problems of placing images onto a fabric to be placed on the hard hat. Finally, the invention could be problematic because the elastic cover does not have a well-defined excess of material to accommodate snugly the protuberance of the brim.

[0005] U.S. Patent 6,848,122 Bl, discloses a removable helmet cover that includes a flexible dome-shaped soft cloth exterior surface disposed on top of a flexible dome-shaped soft cloth

interior liner. However, this helmet cover could be problematic because the elastic cover does not have a well-defined excess of material to accommodate snugly the protuberance of the brim to secure the cover to the helmet. Moreover, the patent only discloses designs encompassing odd shapes that protrude outwards from the helmet and that may limit the attractiveness of these helmets to only a certain group of helmet wearers.

[0006] U.S. Patent 6,256,799 B l, discloses a flexible cover with an outer periphery and an elastic material that is disposed near the outer periphery. Again this invention suffers from the facts that it has odd shapes, and that it does not have a well-defined excess of material to accommodate snugly the protuberance of the brim to secure the cover to the helmet.

[0007] Therefore, there has been a long felt need in the art for helmet covers, which are removable, and allow bikers to individualize themselves from others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] This invention is directed towards overcoming the lack of individuality of helmets. The invention is directed to a decorative removable helmet cover that will make the wearing of helmets more acceptable for activity doers.

[0009] The invention discloses a decorative removable helmet cover that has a material that covers a helmet, where the material has a front and back end, and an elastic rim surrounding the cover, where the rim is used to attach the cover onto the underside portions of the helmet.

[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, the decorative removable helmet cover material is made of flexible material.

[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, the decorative removable helmet cover material is made of cloth. Alternatively, the material is made of non-cloth material of a wide variety of types.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the decorative removable helmet cover has a cover material that is made of one continuous piece.

[0013] In another embodiment, the decorative removable helmet cover has a cover material that is made of a plurality of pieces.

[0014] In other embodiments, the decorative removable helmet cover has a cover where the sections are made of pleated fabric or with material with piping.

[0015] In another embodiment the invention has a decorative removable helmet cover that displays logos. Alternatively, the decorative removable helmet cover displays patterns.

[0016] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative removable helmet cover that enables the user to display creative designs on his or her helmet.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover that is removable and easily washable, to protect the helmet and cover from dirt, grime and scratches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF IHE DRAWlINGS

[0018] Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the cover material casing a helmet. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the cover material casing a helmet worn by an individual.

FIG. 3 is a view of the loose cover material unattached to the helmet. FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of the cover material casing a helmet.

DEt AϊLE0 DEStRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments of the invention, however, one or more embodiments of the invention may be practiced without any of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of embodiments of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an illustration of the material cover casing a helmet 4 showing the material 6 which is totally surrounded by an elastic rim 10, of which only the back end portion 5 of the elastic rim is shown. The elastic rim allows the material to attach onto the underside portions of the helmet. The material 6 has a front end 7 and a back end 8. The front end 7 is well- defined over the back end 8 in order to accommodate the protuberance of the brim.

[0021] In an alternate embodiment, the elastic rim 10 may be replaced by any other means of cinching the edge of the helmet cover, for example, a drawstring, snaps, buttons, or even a hook and eye material with portions on both the helmet and the cover.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows that the material 6 can be made of multiple sections 11, 12, and 13. Of course, more or fewer sections then the three shown are possible. The sections can be joined together by methods known in the art such as, but not limited to, sewing. Moreover, the material could be pleated and/or made with piping.

[0023] Various art logos and patterns (herein defined as artwork) can be displayed on the helmet cover. The artwork may include, but is not limited to, words, colors, college colors, sports team colors, crests, state or national flags, flame designs, motorcycles, cars, airplanes, boats, dice, cards, lips, body parts, military camouflage, beach scenes, starscapes, constellations, psychedelic patterns, paisley patterns, plaid patterns, animal coat patterns, cartoon figures, holiday designs, seasonal designs, or famous works of art. The type of materials that may be used, but are not limited to: cloth, suede, corduroy, denim, linen, silk, velour, leather, felt, polyester, nylon, straw, mesh, vinyl, plastics, glow-in-the dark materials, reflective materials, illuminative materials, electroluminescent-phosphor-containing- materials, or any of a number of synthetic fabrics, such as those available from INVlSTA

(4 ^" 12? East ¹ JTfIi " ¹ S tree't North ¹ ," Wicnϊta, KS 67220; www.invista.com), including, but not limited to, T400™, ANTRON®, AVANTIGE® + LYCRA®, CORDURA®, DACRON®, LYCRA®, SOLARMAX®, SUPPLEX®, TACTEL®, and THERMOLITE®.

[0024] Thus, it should be evident to a person of ordinary skill in the art that an infinite number of patterns of artwork on helmet covers are possible. Even more combinations are possible because artwork may be limited to one section, such as section 11 or alternatively, the artwork may be displayed on multiple sections, such as sections 11, 12, and 13.

[0025] The artwork could either be displayed on the cover using imprinting, sewing, or any other method known to a person of ordinary skill in the art that is capable of displaying artwork onto fabric or other materials.

[0026] FIG. 2 also shows the material snugly casing a helmet 4 and the back side end 5 elastic region of the elastic rim 10 that attach onto the underside of the helmet.

[0027] In FIG. 3 a loose material cover 6 of the invention is shown disclosing the elastic rim 10.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the front end of the material 7, the back end 8 of the material, the rim of the helmet 9 and the elastic rim 10 surrounding the cover material.