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.

1 . A protective helmet adapted to clearly allow others to visually locate a wearer in a dark environment, comprising: 
 a basic shell formed of a molded polymer, wherein said basic shell is adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head, said basis shell comprising a crown portion integrally formed with a brim; and    a phosphorescent material integrated into said basic shell, wherein said molded polymer comprises said phosphorescent material, and wherein said phosphorescent material radiates an illuminating light after said phosphorescent material is exposed to light.    
   
   
       2 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material includes a plurality of phosphorescent crystals.  
   
   
       3 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material is mixed with a polymer to form said basic shell.  
   
   
       4 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said basic shell is part of one of a miner's helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a fireman's helmet, industrial safety helmet, and a sports helmet.  
   
   
       5 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said molded polymer further comprises at least one of polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyamide, polypropylene, Acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene, polyurethane, and polystyrene.  
   
   
       6 . The protective helmet of  claim 5 , wherein said phosphorescent material is blended with said polymer to form said basic shell.  
   
   
       7 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material includes at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate and strontium silicate crystals.  
   
   
       8 . The protective helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the protective helmet is at least 3-10% of said at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate and strontium silicate crystals.  
   
   
       9 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the protective helmet does not include any one of a battery and power source.  
   
   
       10 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material is concentrated throughout said basic shell.  
   
   
       11 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of said phosphorescent material throughout said basic shell is three percent.  
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark in order to clearly allow others to visually locate a wearer in a dark environment, the method comprising: 
 providing a phosphorescent material that is adapted to glow in the dark after being exposed to light;    integrating the phosphorescent material into a polymer, wherein the phosphorescent material includes high performance rare earth doped strontium silicate crystals; and    molding the polymer having the integrated phosphorescent material dispersed throughout into a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark after the protective helmet has been exposed to light.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the polymer is at least one of polyethylene, polyetherimide, polyamide, polypropylene, Acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene, polyurethane, and polystyrene.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein three percent of the helmet is composed of the phosphorescent material.  
   
   
       15 . A protective helmet adapted to clearly allow others to visually locate a wearer in a dark environment, comprising: 
 a basic shell formed of a molded polymer comprising a phosphorescent material, wherein said basic shell is adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head, said basis shell comprising a crown portion integrally formed with a brim; and    said phosphorescent material including a plurality of phosphorescent crystals, wherein said phosphorescent material radiates an illuminating light after said phosphorescent material is exposed to light, and wherein the protective helmet is devoid of a power source.    
   
   
       16 . The protective helmet of  claim 15 , wherein said basic shell is part of one of a miner's helmet, a motorcycle helmet, a fireman's helmet, industrial safety helmet, and a sports helmet.  
   
   
       17 . The protective helmet of  claim 15 , wherein said phosphorescent material includes at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate and strontium silicate crystals.  
   
   
       18 . The protective helmet of  claim 17 , wherein the protective helmet is at least 3-10% of said at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate and strontium silicate crystals.  
   
   
       19 . The protective helmet of  claim 15 , wherein said phosphorescent material is concentrated throughout said basic shell.  
   
   
       20 . The protective helmet of  claim 19 , wherein the concentration of said phosphorescent material throughout said basic shell is three percent.