Robert Oppenheim

Abstract

The present invention is a dry erase helmet with dry erase markers and/or a stencil set. The dome-shaped helmet of the present invention includes adjustable straps and an exterior surface of the helmet cover that is also a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion. The helmet comes with a set of dry erase markers and a stencil kit to help with designs. The invention is a combination of two existing products, a helmet and dry erase markers. The exterior surface of the helmet shell is adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/429,494, entitled "Helmet with a Writing Surface", filed on 4 Jan. 2011. The benefit under 35 USC .sctn.119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

[0003] Not Applicable

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates generally to protective helmets for use in sports. More specifically, the present invention relates to protective helmets for use in sports, which has an external surface that can be written upon by the wearer or others, preferably in a temporary and repeatable dry erase fashion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Many adults and children express themselves by customizing or creating their own clothing styles. This customization is often done in the form of the selection and application of patterns and colors to clothing items. T-shirts, shoes, pants, and hats or other headwear are often adorned with written messages or symbols, which convey a message to others or are readily recognized by others.

[0006] Many adults and children enjoy frequently changing their expression and messages over varying periods of time. This is typically done by wearing different words or different symbols at different times on a variety of clothing items and involves having a large wardrobe of multiple t-shirts, hats, shoes, and pants each, which contain a permanent word, symbol, or other expression. What is desired is a wearable item that provides a wearer or others the flexibility to change or alter their expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion.

[0007] The use of protective helmets for use in recreation sports is sometimes difficult to encourage in participants. Some participants will not wear a helmet because they think it is "uncool" while other may refuse to wear one for any number of reasons, one being the inability to provide an expression or statement by the design of the helmet. In many recreational sports, such as skateboarding, the use of a helmet is essential for safety. Accordingly, a need exists for wearable protection, such as a helmet, which can be readily modified to match the expression desired for the individual.

[0008] Material selection for protective gear, such as a helmet can be critical to the effectiveness of its main objective, that being the protection of the wearer from injury. Additionally, some materials for writing surfaces and/or writing instruments are not suitable for use in protective gear. A compromise can not be made with respect to the material used in the protective gear, especially that of a helmet which could reduce its protective effectiveness. Thus, the protective gear must be either made from a suitable material or combined with a coating or additional external surface layer to provide a marking or writing surface with a clear high contrast mark resulting in good visibility when expressions are applied with a writing instrument in a temporary and repeatable fashion while maintaining helmet effectiveness without increasing its thickness and volume beyond acceptable limits. Accordingly, a need exists for a helmet and other protective gear with a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion that is still effective in protecting a wearer should an accident occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention is a dry erase helmet with dry erase markers and/or a stencil set. The dome-shaped helmet of the present invention includes adjustable straps and an exterior surface of the helmet cover that is also a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion. The helmet comes with a set of dry erase markers and a stencil kit to help with designs. The exterior surface of the helmet shell is adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dome-shaped helmet with adjustable straps wherein an exterior surface of the helmet cover is a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side planar view of the dome-shaped helmet wherein an exterior surface of the helmet cover is a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion;

[0013] FIGS. 3 and 4 are front and back planar views of the dome-shaped helmet wherein an exterior surface of the helmet cover is a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion; and

[0014] FIGS. 5 and 6 are side planar views of the dome-shaped helmet wherein an exterior surface of the helmet cover is a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the following detailed description of the invention of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

[0016] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it is understood that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

[0017] Now referring to the Figures, the embodiment of the dome-shaped helmet 100 with adjustable straps 101 wherein an exterior surface 103 of the helmet cover is a writing surface that can provide a clear high contrast message or other expression in a temporary and repeatable fashion is illustrated. The exterior surface 103 of the helmet shell 104 is adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.

[0018] The helmet 100 comes with a set of dry erase markers and a stencil kit to help with designs. The invention is a unique, novel, and non-obvious combination of two existing products, a helmet and dry erase markers.

[0019] The helmet shell 104 of the present invention is a single-impact helmet design that includes a polystyrene liner 102 and is ideal for biking, skateboarding, long boarding, inline skating (roller blading), and roller derby use. In another alternative embodiment, the helmet shell 104 may be a multi-impact helmet that uses a polystyrene liner 102 which would incorporate the dry-erase a writing surface in combination with the helmet shell 104. In yet another alternative embodiment, the helmet shell 104 may be a multi-impact helmet that uses a memory foam liner, not a polystyrene liner 102 which would incorporate the dry-erase a writing surface in combination with the helmet shell 104. In either embodiment, the helmet shell 104 is made from a material adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped requiring no additional surface coating or materials to allow temporary writing and erasure.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment a helmet made from a material, such as a rubber based helmet shell, that is not adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped can be covered with a thin layer of material that is adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.

[0021] Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0022] Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising: a dome shaped shell with interior and exterior surfaces; a liner; the exterior surface of the helmet shell adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument; and adjustable straps attached to the dome shaped shell.

2. The helmet of claim 1, further comprising: the writing surface adapted to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.

3. The helmet of claim 1, further comprising: a writing surface coupled to the exterior surface of the helmet shell adapted to adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument.

4. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the dome shaped shell is a single-impact design that includes a polystyrene liner.

5. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the dome shaped shell is a single-impact design that includes a memory foam liner.

6. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the dome shaped shell is a multi-impact helmet that uses a polystyrene liner.

7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the dome shaped shell is a multi-impact helmet that uses a memory foam liner

8. A helmet comprising in combination: a dome shaped shell with interior and exterior surfaces; a liner; the exterior surface of the helmet shell adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument; and adjustable straps attached to the dome shaped shell.

9. The helmet of claim 8, further comprising in combination: the writing surface adapted to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped.

10. The helmet of claim 8, further comprising in combination: a writing surface coupled to the exterior surface of the helmet shell adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon by a writing instrument.

11. The helmet of claim 8, further comprising in combination: a set of dry erase markers.

12. The helmet of claim 8, further comprising in combination: a stencil kit to help with designs.

13. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the dome shaped shell is a single-impact design that includes a polystyrene liner.

14. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the dome shaped shell is a single-impact design that includes a memory foam liner.

15. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the dome shaped shell is a multi-impact helmet that uses a polystyrene liner.

16. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the dome shaped shell is a multi-impact helmet that uses a memory foam liner.

17. A helmet comprising in combination: a dome shaped shell with interior and exterior surfaces; the helmet shell constructed from a rubber based material; the exterior surface of the helmet shell covered with a layer of material adapted to retain dry erase ink when written upon and to release dry erase ink therefrom when wiped by a writing instrument; a liner; and adjustable straps attached to the dome shaped shell.