Helmet

Abstract

A helmet includes a shell, a base coating layer entirely covering an outer surface of the shell, and a decorative layer entirely and thermally bonded to an entire outer surface of the base coating layer. The decorative layer includes an adhesive layer, a reflective layer that is bonded to the adhesive layer and that has a plurality of reflective particles, and a patterned layer that is printed on the adhesive layer. A method of forming the helmet is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Application No. 097223666, filed Dec. 30, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a helmet, more particularly to a helmet capable of reflecting light.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional light reflective sticker that is flat and that has a large surface area is incapable of being tightly and entirely attached to a helmet that has a nearly spherical shape. A helmet that has a plurality of conventional small light reflective stickers attached thereon is unable to efficiently reflect light from a distant vehicle, thereby being incapable of warning a driver of the distant vehicle. Furthermore, the two types of the aforementioned light reflective stickers may lose stickiness thereof due to long-term exposure to sun and rain, and may be hence detached from helmets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a helmet that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a helmet that includes a shell, a base coating layer entirely covering an outer surface of the shell, and a decorative layer entirely and thermally bonded to an entire outer surface of the base coating layer. The decorative layer includes an adhesive layer, a patterned layer that is printed on the adhesive layer, and a reflective layer that has a plurality of reflective particles bonded to the adhesive layer.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a helmet that includes a shell, a base coating layer coated on an entire outer surface of the shell, and a decorative layer bonded to an entire outer surface of the base coating layer. The decorative layer includes a patterned layer, an adhesive layer, and a reflective layer. The helmet is made by a process which includes coating the base coating layer on the entire outer surface of the shell, forming the decorative layer on a release substrate, disposing the release substrate together with the decorative layer on the base coating layer to cover entirely the base coating layer, and thermal bonding the decorative layer to the base coating layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a helmet according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 2 but illustrating that a release substrate is removed from a reflective layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the preferred embodiment of a helmet 1 according to the present invention includes a shell 2, a base coating layer 3 that entirely covers an outer surface of the shell 2, and a decorative layer 4 that is entirely and thermally bonded to an entire outer surface of the base coating layer 3. The decorative layer 4 includes an adhesive layer 5, a reflective layer 6 that is bonded to the adhesive layer 5 and that includes a plurality of reflective particles 61, and a patterned layer 40 that is printed on the adhesive layer 5.

The shell 2 may be made from a plastic material by virtue of injection molding or may be made from a resin-impregnated glass fiber. The base coating layer 3 is disposed on an outer surface of the shell 2 through a spray coating process, thereby forming a base color of the shell 2. When the base coating layer 3 is melted by means of heat, the decorative layer 4 can be bonded to the base coating layer 3.

The patterned layer 40 may include a brand logo or other patterns, and can be directly printed and mass produced. The adhesive layer 5 is transparent, and interconnects the patterned layer 40 and the reflective layer 6.

In this embodiment, the reflective particles 61 are tiny glass sands. Alternatively, the reflective particles 61 could be light reflective stone crystal particles or metal particles in other embodiments. The reflective particles 61 are uniformly disposed over the shell 2 such that light transmitted from any angle to the shell 2 can be efficiently reflected by the reflective particles 61.

The helmet 1 further includes a release substrate 7 that covers the reflective layer 6. In this embodiment, the release substrate 7 is made from a transparent plastic material. It should be noted that the release substrate 7 could be made from a paper material in other embodiments. The release substrate 7 is able to protect the reflective layer 6 (e.g., to prevent the reflective layer 6 from being scratched) and is removable from the reflective layer 6. When the helmet 1 is required to be used, the release substrate 7 is preferably removed from the reflective layer 6 so as to expose the same (see FIG. 3). Consequently, the reflective particles 61 can reflect light more efficiently.

A method of making the helmet 1 is described as follows. After the shell 2 is formed, a coating is sprayed on the entire outer surface of the shell 2 to form the base coating layer 3. The reflective particles 61 are sprayed onto one surface of the release substrate 7, thereby forming the reflective layer 6. An adhesive is sprayed on the reflective layer 6 so as to form the adhesive layer 5. The patterned layer 40 is printed on one surface of the adhesive layer 5 opposite to the reflective layer 6. The decorative layer 4 is thus formed.

Subsequently, the decorative layer 4 is disposed on the base coating layer 3 with the patterned layer 40 being in contact with the outer surface of the base coating layer 3. The decorative layer 4 is then transfer printed onto the outer surface of the base coating layer 3 by virtue of a thermal bonding process using pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure. The decorative layer 4 is therefore tightly and entirely bonded to the shell 2. During thermal bonding, the base coating layer 3 is melted, and is bonded to the decorative layer 4.

By dint of pneumatic pressure or hydraulic pressure, the decorative layer 4 can be tightly and entirely attached to the shell 2 in any shape. The decorative layer 4 thermal bonded to the base coating layer 3 can be prevented from being separated from the shell 2. Accordingly, the reflective layer 6 can also be prevented from being released from the shell 2.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

a shell;

a base coating layer entirely covering an outer surface of said shell; and

a decorative layer entirely and thermally bonded to an entire outer surface of said base coating layer, and including: an adhesive layer; a patterned layer printed on said adhesive layer; and a reflective layer having a plurality of reflective particles bonded to said adhesive layer.

2. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a release substrate covering said reflective layer.

3. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflective particles include glass sands.

4. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflective particles include stone crystal particles.

5. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflective particles include metal particles.

6. A helmet comprising:

a shell, a base coating layer coated on an entire outer surface of said shell, and a decorative layer bonded to an entire outer surface of said base coating layer, said decorative layer including a patterned layer, an adhesive layer, and a reflective layer, the helmet being made by a process which includes:

coating said base coating layer on the entire outer surface of said shell;

forming said decorative layer on a release substrate;

disposing said release substrate together with said decorative layer on said base coating layer to cover entirely said base coating layer; and

thermal bonding said decorative layer to said base coating layer.

7. The helmet of claim 6, wherein said decorative layer is formed by:

spraying said reflective particles onto said release substrate to form said reflective layer;

applying said adhesive layer to said reflective layer; and

printing said patterned layer on said adhesive layer.

8. The helmet of claim 7, wherein said adhesive layer is applied by spraying.

9. The helmet of claim 6, wherein said patterned layer is in contact with said base coating layer when said decorative layer is disposed on said base coating layer.