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  Protective helmetUSPTO Application #: 20070261151Title: Protective helmet Abstract: A protective helmet including a basic shell having an outer surface, and a phosphorescent material. The basic shell is adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head. The phosphorescent material radiates an illuminating light after the phosphorescent material is exposed to light. (end of abstract) Agent: Mcandrews Held & Malloy, Ltd - Chicago, IL, US Inventors: Christopher T. Padgett, W. Judson Crosby USPTO Applicaton #: 20070261151 - Class: 002410000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's Head The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070261151. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/888,208, which was filed Jul. 9, 2004, and which relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/574,827, entitled "Improved Protective Helmet," filed May 27, 2004, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to protective helmets, and more particularly, to protective helmets adapted to clearly allow others to visually locate a wearer in a dark environment. [0003] Typical protective hats and caps include an energy absorbing plastic shell and suspension, or headgear, that allows a user to comfortably wear the protective hat or cap. The plastic shell is typically molded from polyethylene or polycarbonate. Often, a light-absorbing or fluorescent color additive is included within the polyethylene or polycarbonate. [0004] Many safety helmets are equipped with fluorescent, retroreflective, or electroluminescent strips in order to make the hat more visible in dark or other such conditions of limited view (e.g., fog). Other safety helmet include light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other such illumination configured to make the helmet, and therefore, the wearer, more visible in diminished view conditions. [0005] U.S. Pat. Des. 310,434, entitled "Motorcycle Helmet with Light," shows a motorcycle helmet with a light mounted to the rear of the main body of the helmet. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,128, entitled "Safety Helmet With Electroluminescent Lamp," discloses an electroluminescent lamp strip member that is electrically coupled to an electroluminescent actuating circuit. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,917, entitled "Illuminated Safety Helmet," discloses a helmet that includes a battery powered rotating light source. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,308, entitled "Helmet for Providing a Sensory Effect to an Observer," relates to a helmet having an inner portion and an outer portion that are spaced from each other to provide an interspace therebetween. A light emitting device and a power source are positioned between the two portions. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,458, entitled "Fireman's Helmet with Integral Front and Rear Lights," relates to a fireman's helmet having integrally formed front and rear light assemblies. [0010] However, such helmets typically require a power system, such as batteries or the like, in order to activate the illumination of the helmet. Power systems add size, weight and expense to the helmet. [0011] Thus, a need exists for a cost-efficient, lightweight, protective helmet capable of being illuminated. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a protective helmet including a basic shell having an outer surface and a phosphorescent material that may or may not be integrally formed with the basic shell. The basic shell is adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head. The phosphorescent material, which may include at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate or strontium silicate crystals, radiates an illuminating light after it is exposed to light. The protective helmet may be at least 3-10% of the high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate or strontium silicate crystals. [0013] The phosphorescent material may include a plurality of phosphorescent crystals. The phosphorescent material may coat the outer surface of the basic shell, or it may be mixed with a polymer to form the basic shell. The phosphorescent crystals may also be positioned on strips that are affixed to the basic shell. [0014] Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of manufacturing a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark. The method includes providing a phosphorescent material that is adapted to glow in the dark, molding a polymer into a basic helmet, and integrating the phosphorescent material into the basic helmet to form a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark after the protective helmet has been exposed to light. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a protective helmet, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of a protective helmet being exposed to a source of light, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a protective helmet in an environment of reduced visibility after the protective helmet has been exposed to a source of light, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of a protective helmet, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. [0019] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading... Full patent description for Protective helmet Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Protective helmet 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Protective helmet or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Sports glove with a segmented joint protector Next Patent Application: Headgear Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Protective helmet patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.58575 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
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