CA2171223A1 - Reflective helmet cover - Google Patents
Reflective helmet coverInfo
- Publication number
- CA2171223A1 CA2171223A1 CA 2171223 CA2171223A CA2171223A1 CA 2171223 A1 CA2171223 A1 CA 2171223A1 CA 2171223 CA2171223 CA 2171223 CA 2171223 A CA2171223 A CA 2171223A CA 2171223 A1 CA2171223 A1 CA 2171223A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- helmet
- reflective
- helmet cover
- retroreflective
- cover
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
- A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
- A42B3/003—Helmet covers
Landscapes
- Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
- Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
Abstract
A retroreflective helmet cap arrangement to be mountable over the outer surface of a protective safety helmet or the like.
The retroflective helmet cap having a forward edge is positionable over the front portion of the helmet and having a rearward edge which is positionable over the rear portion of the helmet. A substantial portion of the crown area of the garment is reflective in which a retroreflective material is bonded to the exterior surface of the garment structure. The lower circumferential edge of the garment includes an elasticized material for means of securing the retroreflective arrangement to the helmet.
The retroflective helmet cap having a forward edge is positionable over the front portion of the helmet and having a rearward edge which is positionable over the rear portion of the helmet. A substantial portion of the crown area of the garment is reflective in which a retroreflective material is bonded to the exterior surface of the garment structure. The lower circumferential edge of the garment includes an elasticized material for means of securing the retroreflective arrangement to the helmet.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates to protective helmets and particularly to the issue of providing a retroreflective cover to a helmet exterior for safety purposes. The term helmet, as used herein, is intended to extend to various forms of protective headgear regardless of the nature of the protection afforded.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The market for safety helmets is growing due to the fact that various provinces are passing legislation which is making the use of safety bicycling helmets a compulsory requirement. Recently, the Province of Ontario passed a new bicycle helmet law which would make it mandatory for Ontario cyclists under the age of 18 years old to wear helmets.
Ontario government statistics have shown that about 12 people under the age of 18 are killed in cycling accidents in Ontario each year. It has been estimated that approximately 75 percent of cycling deaths are due to head injuries. Bicycle helmets must comply with at least one of nine mandated safety standards, however, the safety standards do not require that these helmets be encapsulated with reflective devices. Rel,orerlective materials are widely used in a variety of applications involving vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Retrorerlective materials promote safety by improving the visibility of objects which are illuminated by vehicle headlights and other sources of light. Various protective helmets, in the known prior art, do not provide adequate reflecting materials or reflective surfaces. Such helmets provide reflective strips on the helmet. The effectiveness of these strips are limited since they comprise only a small portion of the exterior spherical surface of the helmet. These arrangements are not durable or long lasting since they are attached to the helmet only by adhesive means.
Known prior art also consists of helmets which use a layer of retroreflective particles that are integral to the exterior surface of the helmet. These helmets are quite costly to purchase and a major disadvantage is that the rel,orerlective surfaces cannot be transferred to another helmet which is not reflectorized. These retroflective systems arrangements lack portability.
It will be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a reflector system that will address the problems of reflective system effectiveness and construction that will provide an enhanced and superior visibility presence of the cyclist.
I do not believe that the known prior art has effectively addressed these problems. A
patent search was conducted on relevant U.S. classes/subclasses of the proposed invention, however, no comparable invention was evidenced.
The class/subclasses searched are listed as follows: 2421, 2425, 2-417, 2-422, 2-171.03, 2-181.4, 2-202, 2-200.1. The patent search was not limited to the noted categories. I do not believe, to the best of my knowledge, that a similar invention exists.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
In accordance to the principles of this invention a s~,etcl1able garment device, or helmet cap, is covered with a retroflective film. The preferred base material of the garment is a 2-way stretch material such as cotton Lycra, Spandex or the like. A reflective transfer film is bonded, by a heat lamination process, to the exterior area of the garment material. To the resultant garment and reflective material arrangement, an elasticized material is secured to the lower periphery of the garment. The elasticized material will allow the proposed invention to be used on a wide variety of helmet sizes and configurations. A major objective of the proposed invention is to provide a retroflective helmet cap arrangement that will provide a 360 degree viewing angle as viewed from the known positions of vehicles on the roadway. The general objective of the present invention is to provide an improved and enhanced safety helmet visibility device which will encompass all of the advantages over the known prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is an object of this invention to provide an interchangeable and improved reflective exterior surface for a protective helmet .
It is an object of this invention to provide a safety helmet reflective system which will encompass a substantial area of the helmet's exterior spherical surface.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a helmet reflective system which can be constructed from garment-like materials thereby making an invention that can be transferable from one helmet to another, the garment materials of the reflective system can can be hand washed or professionally dry cleaned, however, the reflectivity of the invention will not be affected.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a helmet retroreflective system which can be used on a wide range of di~erenl types and sizes of protective helmets including, but not limited to, cycling helmets, construction hard-hats, racing helmets and the like.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a relroreflective apparel device which can be used as a strechable cap-like appliance for use directly over a person's head.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a transferable and portable r~l,or~flective device which can be readily manufactured in a cost-effective manner with regards to material and labour and which can be economically available to the purchasing public, the components of the invention are cost-effective to buy, and yet, the proposed invention's effectiveness will not be diminished nor compromised.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS:
The embodiment of the new invention will now be described with refere"ce to the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 shows an overall side view of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the invention as it is positioned over a safety helmet.
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
As per FIG. 1 it is shown that the retroreflective material areas 3 and 4 are positioned over and bonded to the expandable helmet cap 6 (as illustrated by the dotted lines in this view) Material area 2 (as shown in FIG. 3) is also integral to the retroreflective area, however, refer to FIG. 3 which shows the relationship of the r~lror~lective areas 2, 3 and 4 which are positioned relative to each other to form a continuous and circular l~l,o~lective surface.
The helmet cap 6 is a unique design to facilitate its placement over the exterior surface of a safety helmet. The helmet cap 6 includes a convex forward edge 8 which is positioned to the front of the safety helmet and a convex rearward edge 9 to fit across the rear portion of the safety helmet. Namely, section 3 is the centre crown piece of the relrorellective material whereas rel,Gre~lective sections 2 and 4 will be referred to as adjacent rel,ore~lective side areas. In order to ensure that the resiliency of the helmet cap over the safety helmet, is maintained, an elastic band 1 is sewn by stitching means 7, around the entire lower periphery of the helmet cap 6. The stitching of the elastic band 1 to the helmet cap 6 will cooperate in such a manner as to provide a retention means of the helmet cap to the safety helmet. The elastic band, in conjunction with the flexible cap material, will alow the retroreflective helmet cap arrangement to be used on a variety of shaped safety helmets.
FIG. 2 illusl,ates a cross-sectional side view of the new invention. This view shows the placement of the retroreflective cap arrangement over the safety helmet 5. As is shown, the retroreflective crown portion 3, including areas 2 and 4, as shown in FIG. 3, are bonded to the helmet cap 6. As per FIG. 2, the resultant ret,or~llective material assembly is then sewn by stitching 7 to the elastic band 1. The preferred reflective material utilized in the crown section 3 and adjoining areas 2 and 4, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is a retro reflective film product known as 8710 Scotchlite Reflective Transfer Film available from the 3M Company. This recommended product is suitable for moderate weight fabrics and has good stretch properties. When subjected to vehicle headlights the film will appear as a brilliant silver white colour. As an option, a Reflective Transfer Film such as 8786 or 8787 from 3M may be employed, this alternative material will enhance the reflective spectrum by providing a variety of reflective hues from Red-Orange to Lime-Yellow. The major objective of the selected films are to substantially enhance the nighttime visibility to the wearer. The film will remain highly retroreflective even when viewed by a wide entrance angle. As an option other retroreflective materials may be used. In the heat laminating bonding process of the retroreflective material to the subslrdle fabric, this will be achieved by using a Hot Can Lamination process. This particular process will ensure a satisfactory adhesion of the retroreflective material to the substrate fabric whereas the transfer film will become an integral part of the substrate fabric after bonding. This laminating process has been specifically recommended by 3M to ensure a strong and competent bond. As an option other reflective or retroreflective material may be sewn to the subsL.ate fabric. FIG. 3 shows the top view of the new rel,orerlective helmet arrangement. Areas 2, 3 and 4 form a continuous reflective surface. The combination of these sections are positioned and laminated to the helmet cap fabric so that the outer exterior surface of the retroreflective material assembly is positioned and sewn to the outer circular periphery of the elastic band (as shown in FIG. 2).
1. As a result of this laminations and the sewing process 11, the retroreflective material will be positionable in such manner as to provide a cicular view of 360 degress as viewed from the known positions of vehicles on a roadway. The crown portion 3, and the adjacent underside areas of the helmet cap 6 (as shown in FIG. 2) have a plurality of apertures 10 to provide a high velocity of air flow at the forward edge of the helmet.
Various designs of cycling helmets incorporate a series of the helmet relrorerlective apertures towards the forward positions of the helmet. he positioning of the helmet retroreflective device over these apertures shall be constant with providing a high velocity air flow between the retroreflective helmet cover arrangement and the head of the cyclist.
My invention resides not in any particular feature but rater in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed.
The invention has been shown and described herein in what has been considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized that changes and modifications may by made to meet specific requirements and such changes may be made without departing from the scope and sprite of the invention.
The present invention relates to protective helmets and particularly to the issue of providing a retroreflective cover to a helmet exterior for safety purposes. The term helmet, as used herein, is intended to extend to various forms of protective headgear regardless of the nature of the protection afforded.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The market for safety helmets is growing due to the fact that various provinces are passing legislation which is making the use of safety bicycling helmets a compulsory requirement. Recently, the Province of Ontario passed a new bicycle helmet law which would make it mandatory for Ontario cyclists under the age of 18 years old to wear helmets.
Ontario government statistics have shown that about 12 people under the age of 18 are killed in cycling accidents in Ontario each year. It has been estimated that approximately 75 percent of cycling deaths are due to head injuries. Bicycle helmets must comply with at least one of nine mandated safety standards, however, the safety standards do not require that these helmets be encapsulated with reflective devices. Rel,orerlective materials are widely used in a variety of applications involving vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Retrorerlective materials promote safety by improving the visibility of objects which are illuminated by vehicle headlights and other sources of light. Various protective helmets, in the known prior art, do not provide adequate reflecting materials or reflective surfaces. Such helmets provide reflective strips on the helmet. The effectiveness of these strips are limited since they comprise only a small portion of the exterior spherical surface of the helmet. These arrangements are not durable or long lasting since they are attached to the helmet only by adhesive means.
Known prior art also consists of helmets which use a layer of retroreflective particles that are integral to the exterior surface of the helmet. These helmets are quite costly to purchase and a major disadvantage is that the rel,orerlective surfaces cannot be transferred to another helmet which is not reflectorized. These retroflective systems arrangements lack portability.
It will be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a reflector system that will address the problems of reflective system effectiveness and construction that will provide an enhanced and superior visibility presence of the cyclist.
I do not believe that the known prior art has effectively addressed these problems. A
patent search was conducted on relevant U.S. classes/subclasses of the proposed invention, however, no comparable invention was evidenced.
The class/subclasses searched are listed as follows: 2421, 2425, 2-417, 2-422, 2-171.03, 2-181.4, 2-202, 2-200.1. The patent search was not limited to the noted categories. I do not believe, to the best of my knowledge, that a similar invention exists.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION:
In accordance to the principles of this invention a s~,etcl1able garment device, or helmet cap, is covered with a retroflective film. The preferred base material of the garment is a 2-way stretch material such as cotton Lycra, Spandex or the like. A reflective transfer film is bonded, by a heat lamination process, to the exterior area of the garment material. To the resultant garment and reflective material arrangement, an elasticized material is secured to the lower periphery of the garment. The elasticized material will allow the proposed invention to be used on a wide variety of helmet sizes and configurations. A major objective of the proposed invention is to provide a retroflective helmet cap arrangement that will provide a 360 degree viewing angle as viewed from the known positions of vehicles on the roadway. The general objective of the present invention is to provide an improved and enhanced safety helmet visibility device which will encompass all of the advantages over the known prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is an object of this invention to provide an interchangeable and improved reflective exterior surface for a protective helmet .
It is an object of this invention to provide a safety helmet reflective system which will encompass a substantial area of the helmet's exterior spherical surface.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a helmet reflective system which can be constructed from garment-like materials thereby making an invention that can be transferable from one helmet to another, the garment materials of the reflective system can can be hand washed or professionally dry cleaned, however, the reflectivity of the invention will not be affected.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a helmet retroreflective system which can be used on a wide range of di~erenl types and sizes of protective helmets including, but not limited to, cycling helmets, construction hard-hats, racing helmets and the like.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a relroreflective apparel device which can be used as a strechable cap-like appliance for use directly over a person's head.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a transferable and portable r~l,or~flective device which can be readily manufactured in a cost-effective manner with regards to material and labour and which can be economically available to the purchasing public, the components of the invention are cost-effective to buy, and yet, the proposed invention's effectiveness will not be diminished nor compromised.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS:
The embodiment of the new invention will now be described with refere"ce to the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 shows an overall side view of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the invention as it is positioned over a safety helmet.
FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
As per FIG. 1 it is shown that the retroreflective material areas 3 and 4 are positioned over and bonded to the expandable helmet cap 6 (as illustrated by the dotted lines in this view) Material area 2 (as shown in FIG. 3) is also integral to the retroreflective area, however, refer to FIG. 3 which shows the relationship of the r~lror~lective areas 2, 3 and 4 which are positioned relative to each other to form a continuous and circular l~l,o~lective surface.
The helmet cap 6 is a unique design to facilitate its placement over the exterior surface of a safety helmet. The helmet cap 6 includes a convex forward edge 8 which is positioned to the front of the safety helmet and a convex rearward edge 9 to fit across the rear portion of the safety helmet. Namely, section 3 is the centre crown piece of the relrorellective material whereas rel,Gre~lective sections 2 and 4 will be referred to as adjacent rel,ore~lective side areas. In order to ensure that the resiliency of the helmet cap over the safety helmet, is maintained, an elastic band 1 is sewn by stitching means 7, around the entire lower periphery of the helmet cap 6. The stitching of the elastic band 1 to the helmet cap 6 will cooperate in such a manner as to provide a retention means of the helmet cap to the safety helmet. The elastic band, in conjunction with the flexible cap material, will alow the retroreflective helmet cap arrangement to be used on a variety of shaped safety helmets.
FIG. 2 illusl,ates a cross-sectional side view of the new invention. This view shows the placement of the retroreflective cap arrangement over the safety helmet 5. As is shown, the retroreflective crown portion 3, including areas 2 and 4, as shown in FIG. 3, are bonded to the helmet cap 6. As per FIG. 2, the resultant ret,or~llective material assembly is then sewn by stitching 7 to the elastic band 1. The preferred reflective material utilized in the crown section 3 and adjoining areas 2 and 4, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is a retro reflective film product known as 8710 Scotchlite Reflective Transfer Film available from the 3M Company. This recommended product is suitable for moderate weight fabrics and has good stretch properties. When subjected to vehicle headlights the film will appear as a brilliant silver white colour. As an option, a Reflective Transfer Film such as 8786 or 8787 from 3M may be employed, this alternative material will enhance the reflective spectrum by providing a variety of reflective hues from Red-Orange to Lime-Yellow. The major objective of the selected films are to substantially enhance the nighttime visibility to the wearer. The film will remain highly retroreflective even when viewed by a wide entrance angle. As an option other retroreflective materials may be used. In the heat laminating bonding process of the retroreflective material to the subslrdle fabric, this will be achieved by using a Hot Can Lamination process. This particular process will ensure a satisfactory adhesion of the retroreflective material to the substrate fabric whereas the transfer film will become an integral part of the substrate fabric after bonding. This laminating process has been specifically recommended by 3M to ensure a strong and competent bond. As an option other reflective or retroreflective material may be sewn to the subsL.ate fabric. FIG. 3 shows the top view of the new rel,orerlective helmet arrangement. Areas 2, 3 and 4 form a continuous reflective surface. The combination of these sections are positioned and laminated to the helmet cap fabric so that the outer exterior surface of the retroreflective material assembly is positioned and sewn to the outer circular periphery of the elastic band (as shown in FIG. 2).
1. As a result of this laminations and the sewing process 11, the retroreflective material will be positionable in such manner as to provide a cicular view of 360 degress as viewed from the known positions of vehicles on a roadway. The crown portion 3, and the adjacent underside areas of the helmet cap 6 (as shown in FIG. 2) have a plurality of apertures 10 to provide a high velocity of air flow at the forward edge of the helmet.
Various designs of cycling helmets incorporate a series of the helmet relrorerlective apertures towards the forward positions of the helmet. he positioning of the helmet retroreflective device over these apertures shall be constant with providing a high velocity air flow between the retroreflective helmet cover arrangement and the head of the cyclist.
My invention resides not in any particular feature but rater in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed.
The invention has been shown and described herein in what has been considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized that changes and modifications may by made to meet specific requirements and such changes may be made without departing from the scope and sprite of the invention.
Claims (8)
1. A retroflective helmet cap arrangement comprising: a helmet cover; a reflective material; and an elasticized material.
2. A helmet cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the helmet cover consists of anarrangement of a sheet of flexible material having a front edge for outer attachment to the helmet cover and rear edge for making contact with the outer rear edge of such a helmet.
3. A helmet cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein the helmet cover is comprised of a reflective body having a front edge and rear edge and attaching contact with the exterior surface of the helmet cover.
4. A reflective material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is comprised of a sheet of reflective film wherein the reflective film substantially reflects the retroflective light from various light sources.
5. A reflective material as claimed in claim 4, wherein the material is secured to the helmet cover by bonding means.
6. A reflective material as claimed in claim 5, wherein the material is attached in a somewhat concentric fashion in regards to the exterior peripheral diameter of the helmet cover.
7. A reflective material as claimed in claim 6, wherein the crown portion of the reflective body has a plurality of perforations to allow for the flow of air through the reflective material and the helmet cover.
8. An elasticized material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material is attached by sewing means to the helmet cover to make possible a tight engagement of the helmet cover to the exterior surface of a safety helmet or the like.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2171223 CA2171223A1 (en) | 1996-03-07 | 1996-03-07 | Reflective helmet cover |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2171223 CA2171223A1 (en) | 1996-03-07 | 1996-03-07 | Reflective helmet cover |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2171223A1 true CA2171223A1 (en) | 1997-09-08 |
Family
ID=4157701
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2171223 Abandoned CA2171223A1 (en) | 1996-03-07 | 1996-03-07 | Reflective helmet cover |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2171223A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2007018536A1 (en) * | 2005-08-05 | 2007-02-15 | Paul Michael Stokes | Decorative removable helmet cover |
| WO2012037625A1 (en) * | 2010-09-21 | 2012-03-29 | Wilson Perassoli Junior | Decorative and protective cover for both integral and open motorcyclist helmets, with a safety retroreflective device |
| WO2016188670A1 (en) * | 2015-05-22 | 2016-12-01 | ABUS August Bremicker Söhne KG | Cover shell |
-
1996
- 1996-03-07 CA CA 2171223 patent/CA2171223A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2007018536A1 (en) * | 2005-08-05 | 2007-02-15 | Paul Michael Stokes | Decorative removable helmet cover |
| US20080222782A1 (en) * | 2005-08-05 | 2008-09-18 | Paul Michael Stokes | Decorative Removable Helmet Cover |
| WO2012037625A1 (en) * | 2010-09-21 | 2012-03-29 | Wilson Perassoli Junior | Decorative and protective cover for both integral and open motorcyclist helmets, with a safety retroreflective device |
| WO2016188670A1 (en) * | 2015-05-22 | 2016-12-01 | ABUS August Bremicker Söhne KG | Cover shell |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4517685A (en) | Retro-reflective attachment for wearing apparel | |
| CA2510321C (en) | Safety vest and other clothing articles | |
| US7422340B2 (en) | EL lighting for garments with four wire circuit | |
| US6974610B1 (en) | Graphic transfer for high visibility safety apparel | |
| US5588156A (en) | Article of clothing having high visibility | |
| US6698903B2 (en) | Reflective safety garment | |
| US5779348A (en) | Illuminated safety shoulder strap | |
| US20090034238A1 (en) | Omnidirectionally illuminated helmet | |
| US7690049B2 (en) | EL power unit | |
| CA2171223A1 (en) | Reflective helmet cover | |
| US9661882B2 (en) | Method, system, and apparatus for increasing the visibility of clothing | |
| US20040114350A1 (en) | Safety vest and other clothing articles | |
| US20070113444A1 (en) | Motorcycle Jacket License Display | |
| KR200260983Y1 (en) | The reflection cap | |
| CN210143865U (en) | Novel safety indication raincoat | |
| KR200246417Y1 (en) | Emitting cap | |
| CN2244312Y (en) | Safety waistcoat | |
| WO2000057736A1 (en) | Security garment | |
| CN2380055Y (en) | Luminous warning vest | |
| JP3049262U (en) | Hat child | |
| JP3091151U (en) | Light-emitting / reflective protective cap that is easy to see during night work and tunnel work, and light-emitting / reflective protective cap that is easy to see when worn at night | |
| JP3033685U (en) | Luminous reflective waistcoat | |
| WO2008006143A1 (en) | Safety vest | |
| JPH09313240A (en) | Personal ornament having reflector | |
| CN2047102U (en) | Safety cloth for motorcycle driver |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |