Decorative protective helmet
A molded decorative protective helmet, which can be made in desirable shapes. Standard semi-hemispherical motorcycle helmets serve their protective purpose very well but have an undesirable appearance to many motorcyclists. A hard molded protective helmet made to have the appearance of a more desirable soft cloth or leather cap will promote motorcycle helmet use resulting in greater protection to a user. The molded protective helmet can have a bill or raised outer edges, which can serve as a point of first contact in the event of a fall by the motorcyclist. This point of first contact can crumble and absorb some of the force of the fall, thus avoiding transmitting the force to a motorcyclist's head. The helmet can be molded from a softer rigid outer covering and a harder inner shell and may have a liner which can be individually sized for a user's head.
This invention relates generally to protective helmets. More particularly, it relates to protective helmets that not only provide protection from blows to the head, but does so in the most pleasing aesthetic fashion possible.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt has long been recognized there is a need for combining a pleasing aesthetic appearance with a protective helmet. For example, M. S. Plastino, U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,003, discloses an inner protective shell which fits inside of and is concealed by an outer covering which can be manufactured in a variety of shapes. Similar ideas are seen in Plastino, U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,015, in which there is a hard inner liner with a removable outer cover which may be shaped like a cap or conventional hat with a brim.
One area where there are strict requirements for the appearance of head gear is in the field of equestrian show helmets. These helmets must have particular features. Consequently, it is a challenge to make a protective helmet that also meets the appearance requirements. One such attempt is Plastino, U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,336. This discloses a head gear wherein a cover fits over a resilient shell. The cover may be attached and detached from the resilient shell. A similar design is seen in Broersma, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,004. In the Broersma approach, a generally circular helmet has additional elements which are required in equestrian shows including the helmet be covered in black velvet, have a forward brim, and a decorative top button. The helmet itself is covered with a velvet-like decorative material to meet the requirements of the appearance requirements for equestrian events.
A similar approach can be seen in Andersen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,591. In Andersen, a protective plastic insert is placed inside a conventional golf cap. The insert is sized to adjust to size changes of the golf caps which are usually size adjustable. Thus, a single sized insert will fit inside most golf caps. The idea is for a user to be able to protect himself against the impact of a golf ball while still wearing a conventional appearance golf cap.
One field in which there is a number of designs for helmets are for motorcycles. A motorcycle rider may be traveling at high speed. In many states the rider is required to wear a protective helmet. Many of these helmets cover the user's entire head with a visor which folds down and protects the face. One example of this type of helmet is Kamata, U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,937. Kamata provides a vent to provide ventilation for the helmet which otherwise might be hot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDespite this earlier work, there is still the need, especially in motorcycle helmets, for a helmet that combines safety with aesthetic features. Currently placing a decorative cover on a hard protective helmet has several drawbacks. First, the outside decorative cover is apt to wear out, get dirty, become detached from the helmet or lost at inconvenient times and require replacement. Secondly, adding an outside cover to the inner helmet adds weight. Third, adding an outside cover can reduce airflow through the helmet, hence make the helmet hotter. Consequently, if the protective shell itself could be formed in such a way as to provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance while maintaining protective features and an acceptable degree of comfort, it would be an advance in the art.
The current invention is a motorcycle helmet. It is believed it will find its widest application in motorcycle helmets since many motorcycle riders, especially those who may be devoted to a particular brand of motorcycle such as Harley-Davidson that carries a certain rebel image may disdain wearing a standard helmet. For a Harley-Davidson rider, wearing a protective helmet is reminiscent of casual motorcycle riders who might ride a motorcycle like those provided by Honda or other Japanese manufacturers. Riders of a Harley-Davidson may be not the least bit interested in being identified as a rider of a Honda motorcycle, advertised as “the nicest people”. Consequently, many motorcyclists prefer to ride bareheaded if at all possible, disdaining a helmet. However, many states require a helmet. Consequently, if the helmet could be shaped in a way that matches the romance and the rebel image associated with motorcycles, especially those associated with American made or Harley-Davidson motorcycles, would provide important protective advantages. An unworn helmet is of no use whatsoever. Thus, a protective helmet that satisfies the need for an aesthetically pleasing appearance is more likely to be worn.
The current invention is a molded, hard protective shell using current materials and manufacturing methods. A hard protective shell need not appear as the disdained hemispherical shaped motorcycle helmet. It can be molded to appear like a soft motorcycle hat, not unlike the hat worn by Marlon Brando as a motorcyclist in the landmark motorcycle movie “The Wild Ones”. Or, it could be molded to appear like a kepi hat worn by fighters in the Civil War, most notably those fighting for the Confederacy. Or, it could be molded into a variety of other pleasing, aesthetic shapes, because the pleasing appearance is itself molded into the very durable protective helmet material. It is durable, long lasting, cannot be lost or detached from the helmet itself. The shape of the helmet itself can form a “crush zone” which provides protection and avoids transmitting forces to the head inside of the helmet. It can be molded in such a way as to be light weight, comfortable and cool and at the same time provide an important appearance advantage which promotes wearing of the helmet even in states which do not require a helmet. The helmets can be made attractive enough to where they themselves become a desirable object and can be treated as a piece of collectible art, as well as a functional helmet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Moreover, as is shown in
It will be noted that the decorative protective kepi hat (320) has a bill (130) which provides protection for the front of the user, while the campaign hat (350) has a wide flat brim (230) and a high crown (360). Again, when these are made of rigid material, they provide a crumple zone and provide extra protection. Moreover, the association with the infantrymen in the War Between the States or Civil War, on the one hand, or the association with drill instructors or highway patrolmen may make these hats aesthetically attractive to certain customers and make them more likely to be worn than a less attractive hat.
It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that there could be variations on the underlying theme of an attractive outside shape designed to entice a motorcyclist who may otherwise disdain a standard shaped helmet, to wear the decorative protective helmet provided in that particular pleasing aesthetic shape. There is a whole catalog of shapes that might be useful or pleasing to a particular category of users. These can include distinctive types of sport hats such as baseball caps, or other kinds of military hats such as sailor hat. An extreme example could even look like a feathered head dress of an indian chief, an old-fashioned bonnet for women, or any other shape that is likely to evoke a positive reaction in a user, pleasing both the user's sense of style while at the same time provide important protective advantages. It will be understood these shapes may be varied without parting from the essential spirit of this invention, which is to provide a pleasing aesthetic shape in a molded, hard, protective helmet providing extra protection to a user while the aesthetic shape entices a user to purchase and use the protective helmet. The only limitations are the claims which follow.
Claims
1. (Canceled)
2. (Canceled)
3. (Canceled)
4. (Canceled)
5. (Canceled)
6. (Canceled)
7. (Canceled)
8. (Canceled)
9. (Canceled)
10. (Canceled)
11. (Canceled)
12. (Canceled)
13. (Canceled)
14. (Canceled)
15. (Canceled)
16. (Canceled)
17. A decorative protective motorcycle cap comprising:
- (a) a motorcycle cap molded of rigid protective material, within a first down side of said motorcycle cap having a generally circular opening, whereby said general circular opening slips onto a user's head;
- (b) on a first end of said motorcycle cap, above said first down side with said opening, a bill extending outwardly from said first end and forming a general quarter moon shape whereby said bill effectively shades a portion of a user's head when said decorative protective motorcycle cap is on a user's head;
- (c) a crown portion of said motorcycle cap extending above said first down side and forming an enclosure, said crown portion having irregularly shaped a generally rounded shape with a raised circular ridge in proximity a second up side of said motorcycle cap.
18. A decorative protective motorcycle cap of claim 17 wherein said decorative protective motorcycle cap further includes a removable inner liner; said removable inner liner sizeable to individual sizes of a user.
19. A decorative protective motorcycle cap of claim 18 wherein said decorative protective motorcycle cap is molded from a plastic material.
20. A decorative protective motorcycle cap of claim 19 wherein there is a first outer plastic material forming an outer surface of said decorative protective motorcycle cap and a second inner plastic material forming an inner liner material of said decorative protective motorcycle cap.
21. A decorative protective motorcycle cap of claim 20 wherein said first outer surface is molded of a softer material than said second inner material.
22. A decorative protective kepi hat for use by a motorcyclist comprising:
- (a) a kepi hat molded of rigid protective material with a first down side of said kepi hat having a generally circular opening whereby said generally circular opening slips onto a user's head;
- (b) on a first end of said kepi hat above said first down side with said opening a bill extending outwardly from said first end forming a generally quarter-moon shape whereby said bill effectively shades a portion of a user's head when said decorative protective kepi hat is on the user's head;
- (c) a crown portion of said kepi hat generally flat and circular in shape; said crown portion inclined upwardly from said first end of said kepi hat to a second end of said kepi hat; said second end of said kepi hat distal from said bill of said kepi hat.
23. A decorative protective kepi hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 22 wherein said decorative protective motorcycle cap further includes a removable inner liner; said removable inner liner sizeable to individual sizes of a user.
24. A decorative protective kepi hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 23 wherein said decorative protective motorcycle cap is molded from a plastic material.
25. A decorative protective kepi hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 24 wherein there is a first outer plastic material forming an outer surface of said decorative protective motorcycle cap and a second inner plastic material forming an inner liner material of said decorative protective motorcycle cap.
26. A decorative protective kepi hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 25 wherein said first outer surface is molded of a softer material than said second inner material.
27. A decorative protective campaign hat for use by a motorcyclist comprising:
- (a) a campaign hat molded of rigid protective material with a first down said of said campaign hat having a generally circular opening whereby said generally circular opening slips onto a user's head;
- (b) in proximity to said first down side a brim extends all the way around said generally circular opening; said brim generally flat in and extending outwardly from said first end of said campaign hat;
- (c) a crown portion of said campaign hat extending above said first down side culminating in a flattened point with at least two indentations formed in said crown in proximity to said flattened point.
28. A decorative protective campaign hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 27 wherein said decorative protective motorcycle cap further includes a removable inner liner; said removable inner liner sizeable to individual sizes of a user.
29. A decorative protective campaign hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 28 wherein said decorative protective motorcycle cap is molded from a plastic material.
30. A decorative protective campaign hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 29 wherein there is a first outer plastic material forming an outer surface of said decorative protective motorcycle cap and a second inner plastic material forming an inner liner material of said decorative protective motorcycle cap.
31. A decorative protective campaign hat for use by a motorcyclist of claim 230 wherein said first outer surface is molded of a softer material than said second inner material.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2003
Publication Date: Feb 10, 2005
Inventor: David Fowler (Bolivia, NC)
Application Number: 10/637,389