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Helmet strap padRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's HeadHelmet strap pad description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070083986, Helmet strap pad. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/720,286 filed Sep. 26, 2005, which application is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to helmets and in particular to providing padding for helmet straps. [0003] Many helmets for various uses include a helmet (or chin) strap for holding the helmet in place on a wearer. In order to provide a snug fit, the strap generally comprises a right strap and a left strap joined by a buckle. The straps generally also include a tightening means which may either be integrated into the buckles or at a point along the strap. [0004] Some uses of helmets, for example bicycle riding, require a fairly snug helmet due to motion of the wearer's head. Other uses, for example racing, may require an even tighter helmet because of the substantial risk of injury from high speed collisions. When the straps are tightened, the buckles or the straps themselves often result in discomfort and chaffing of skin, which is particularly annoying to women. As a result, a helmet may not be worn, or may not be worn properly (i.e., with a tight strap) resulting in safety issues. [0005] Further, the helmet strap buckles often include one or more edge and while a simple fabric tube may be provided to slide over a helmet strap and buckle to provide comfortable use of the helmet strap, such simple tube is likely to quickly fray or tear, and not provide long and useful service. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a helmet strap pad for sliding over a helmet strap and buckle. The strap pad includes a soft exterior layer, a tear resistant inner layer, and padding between the exterior and the inner layers. The inner layer prevents or reduces damage to the strap pad when the pad is positioned over the strap buckle. The soft exterior layer and padding eliminate or reduce a wearer's discomfort caused by the helmet strap and the buckle. The strap pad may have a range of lengths and widths for use by adults and children and for use with helmets for motorcycles, bicycles, skateboards, horseback riding, or for any helmet having a helmet strap. The strap pads may further be used over straps used to secure merchandise having surfaces which may be damaged by, for example, tie-down straps. [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a helmet strap pad including a tubular body with a tear resistant inner layer for resisting tearing, a soft outer layer of the body for providing comfort to a helmet wearer, and padding residing between the inner layer and the outer layer. The tubular body is between approximately two inches and approximately five inches in length and between approximately one inch and approximately four inches wide when laying flat. [0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for wearing a helmet strap pad. The method includes steps of sliding a helmet strap pad over a first buckle half residing on a first helmet strap end and over the first helmet strap end, joining the first buckle half with a second buckle half residing on a second helmet strap end, under a wearer's chin, sliding the helmet strap pad over the joined buckle halves, and approximately centering the helmet strap pad under the wearer's chin. To avoid damage to the strap pad, a tear resistant inner surface of the helmet strap pad is maintained against the first buckle half and against the first helmet strap end while sliding the helmet strap pad, and a soft outer surface of the helmet strap pad away from the first buckle half and away from the first helmet strap end while sliding the helmet strap pad. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING [0009] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: [0010] FIG. 1 shows a helmet and helmet strap with a buckle residing on a wearer's head. [0011] FIG. 2 shows a helmet strap pad according to the present invention residing over the helmet strap and buckle to provide comfort to the wearer. [0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the helmet strap pad according to the present invention. [0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of the helmet strap pad. [0014] FIG. 3B is an end view of the helmet strap pad. [0015] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the helmet strap pad taken along line 4A-4A of FIG. 3B. [0016] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the helmet strap pad taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 3B. [0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the helmet strap pad taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3A. [0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a three-layered material used to make the helmet strap pad. [0019] FIG. 7 is a method for wearing the helmet strap pad. [0020] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading about Helmet strap pad... Full patent description for Helmet strap pad Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Helmet strap pad patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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