Self-Decoratable Sporting Helmet

Abstract

One embodiment of a helmet 10, upon which markers 14 are used to add decorations to the plastic outer shell 12. The ink from the markers 14 dries quickly, and thereafter becomes waterproof and unable to be removed without the use of chemicals or without damaging the plastic outer shell 12 of the helmet 10. The decorations thus applied are able to withstand the expected rigors of sporting activity without being erased. In addition, a solvent based cleaning solution 18 and a means for applying the solvent based cleaning solution 18 to the plastic outer shell 12 of the helmet 10 is used to erase any mistakes in the decorations, or to erase them entirely, thereby allowing the user to re-decorate the helmet 10 whenever they so desire.

Claims

1. A sporting helmet, comprising: a. a helmet with a plastic outer shell capable of being drawn upon b. a plurality of markers which can be used to draw upon said plastic outer shell of said helmet c. an ink, which will be loaded into said markers and drawn onto said plastic outer shell, which, when dry, becomes waterproof and unable to be wiped off of said plastic outer shell without the use of chemicals or without scratching or damaging said plastic outer shell d. a solvent based cleaning solution for removing said ink from said plastic outer shell after said ink has dried, which said solvent based cleaning solution will not damage and render unsafe said helmet over the useful lifetime of said helmet, and e. means for applying said solvent based cleaning solution to said plastic outer shell without scratching or damaging said plastic outer shell.

2. The helmet of claim 1 wherein said plastic outer shell is constructed of ABS plastic.

3. The helmet of claim 1 wherein said helmet has an EPS foam inner liner below said plastic outer shell.

4. The markers of claim 1 wherein said markers have two tips, one chisel shaped, and the other pointed, whereby the user can chose whichever tip is more helpful in drawing their intended designs.

5. The ink of claim 1 wherein said ink is alcohol based.

6. The solvent based cleaning solution of claim 1 wherein said solvent based cleaning solution uses isopropyl alcohol as its solvent.

7. The means for applying said solvent of claim 1 wherein said means is a plastic scouring pad.

8. The means for applying said solvent of claim 1 wherein said means is steel wool.

9. A method of decorating a sporting helmet, comprising: providing a helmet with a plastic outer shell, a plurality of markers filed with an ink, a solvent based cleaning solution, and a means for applying said solvent based cleaning solution to said plastic outer shell, and decorating said plastic outer shell with said ink by means of said markers, and allowing said ink to dry and become waterproof and unable to be wiped off of said plastic outer shell without the use of chemicals or without scratching or damaging said plastic outer shell, and applying said solvent based cleaning solution to said plastic outer shell with said means of applying said solvent based cleaning, whereby said ink is removed from said plastic outer shell without damaging and rendering unsafe said helmet over the useful lifetime of said helmet.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said plastic outer shell is constructed of ABS plastic.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said helmet has an EPS foam inner liner below said plastic outer shell.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said markers have two tips, one chisel shaped, and the other pointed, whereby the user can chose whichever tip is more helpful in drawing their intended designs.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said ink is alcohol based.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said solvent based cleaning solution uses isopropyl alcohol as its solvent.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said means is a plastic scouring pad.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said means is steel wool.

Description

DRAWINGS

Figures

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a sporting helmet.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a marker with two tips.

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a bottle of solvent based cleaning solution.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a plastic scouring pad.

[0020]

TABLE-US-00002 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

[0021] 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's head in a crash.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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'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'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.

[0024] 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'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.

[0025] 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's hand.

Operation—FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4

[0026] The manner of using one embodiment is as follows. One uses the markers 14 to draw one'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.

[0027] If one makes a mistake when decorating one's helmet 10, or if one desires for any reason to change the decorations on one'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

[0028] From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of my self-designable sporting helmet become evident:

[0029] (a) The user is able to decorate their own sporting helmet.

[0030] (b) The ink dries quickly on the plastic outer shell of the helmet, and thereafter cannot be smudged.

[0031] (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's decorations can last as long as the user chooses.

[0032] (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.

[0033] (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.

[0034] (f) The chemicals used are of low toxicity, and are safe for use by children with minimal adult supervision.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0035] 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'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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.