Cover for use with helmets and method

Abstract

A helmet cover is disclosed. The covering includes a knitted fabric formed into a dome shape. The fabric may include two or more holes configured to allow a goggle retention strap to pass through in order to enable the goggle retention strap to form a closed loop.

1 . A helmet cover comprising:
 a fabric formed into a dome shape, the fabric including a plurality of holes configured to allow a goggle retention strap to pass therethrough in order to enable the goggle retention strap to form a closed loop.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet cover of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is configured to extend past a bottom front edge of the helmet and to cover a portion of the wearer's forehead between the bottom edge of the helmet and a top edge of a pair of goggles worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet cover of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is knitted with a cord structure having an elastic cord surrounded by cords of one or more predetermined colors. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet cover of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is knitted with a cord structure including a cotton-covered elastic cord rolled together with one or more dyed yarns. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet cover of  claim 4 , wherein the elastic cord is spandex. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet cover of  claim 1 , wherein the dome shape is formed using a cord with 49 stitches casted on and knitted into a circular loop,
 then for every 7 stitches the stitch count is decreased by 1 until a first complete circle is finished, then every stitch of the first complete circle is knitted around,   then for every 6 stitches the stitch count is decreased by 1 until a second complete circle is finished, then every stitch of the second complete circle is knitted around,   then for every 5 stitches, the stitch count is decreased by 1 until a third complete circle is finished, then every stitch of the third complete circle is knitted around,   then for every 4 stitches, the stitch count is decreased by 1 until a fourth complete circle is finished, then every stitch of the fourth complete circle is knitted around,   then for every 3 stitches, the stitch count is decreased by 1 until a fifth complete circle is finished, then every stitch of the fifth complete circle is knitted around,   then for every 2 stitches, the stitch count is decreased by 1 until a sixth complete circle is finished, then every stitch of the sixth complete circle is knitted around,   then the cord is passed from the last stitch through all the remaining stitches.   
     
     
         7 . A snowboard helmet cover comprising:
 a fabric sized and shaped to substantially cover at least a majority of the outside surface of the helmet;   the fabric including at least two slits therein, a first of the at least two slits disposed in the fabric to allow one or both of two mating portions of a goggle retention strap connected to the helmet to pass therethrough, a second of the at least two slits disposed in the fabric to allow one or both of the two mating portions of the goggle retention strap connected to the helmet to pass therethrough, the first and second slits thereby allowing the first and second portions to mate.   
     
     
         8 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , further comprising multiple slits in the fabric to allow the fabric to be positioned over the helmet in more than one position while allowing at least one portion of the goggle retention strap to pass through two of the multiple slits and allowing the first and second goggle retention strap portions to mate. 
     
     
         9 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric is configured to extend past a bottom front edge of the helmet and to cover a portion of the wearer's head below the bottom edge. 
     
     
         10 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , wherein the slits are formed in a knitted structure, and wherein the knitted structure includes a substantially large plurality of slits. 
     
     
         11 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric has a fabric structure, and wherein the slits are formed as integral features of the fabric structure. 
     
     
         12 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric is made from a composite cord including an elastic cord twisted together with dyed treads. 
     
     
         13 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 12 , wherein the fabric is configured to be flexible to have a first state configured to fit over the snowboard helmet, and a second state configured to fit substantially snuggly over the head of a wearer with the snowboard helmet removed. 
     
     
         14 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric is made from a cotton-covered spandex twisted together with dyed treads. 
     
     
         15 . The snowboard helmet cover of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more decorative elements coupled with the fabric to give the helmet cover a stylish and/or humorous appearance. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a snowboard helmet cover comprising:
 knitting a fabric into a dome shape; and   forming the fabric to include a plurality of slits therein such that a goggle retention strap coupled with the snowboard helmet is able to selectively pass through one or more slits in order to enable the goggle retention strap to form a closed loop.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dome shape is formed by:
 casting on N number of stitches where N is a starting number of stitches;   knitting the N number of stitches into a first circular loop;   knitting every stitch around;   reducing N by 7 and casting on the reduced N number of stitches, and knitting the reduced N number of stitches into another circular loop;   knitting every stitch around;   continuing the reducing N by 7 and the casting on the reduced N number of stitches until N is less than 7; and   passing the yarn from the last stitch through all the remaining stitches.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the N starting number of stitches is 49. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming the dome shape to extend below a bottom edge of the snowboard helmet and forming an extended flap so that a wearer can use the extended flap to cover one or more portions of the wearer's head below the bottom edge of the snowboard helmet.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dome shape is formed by:
 casting on 49 stitches and knitted the 49 stitches into a circular loop up to 7 inches long;   for every 7 stitches, decreasing the stitch count by 1 until a first complete circle is finished;   knitting every stitch around;   for every 6 stitches, decreasing the stitch count by 1 until a second complete circle is finished;   knitting every stitch around;   for every 5 stitches, decreasing the stitch count by 1 until a third complete circle is finished;   knitting every stitch around;   for every 4 stitches, decreasing the stitch count by 1 until a fourth complete circle is finished;   knitting every stitch around;   for every 3 stitches, decreasing the stitch count by 1 until a fifth complete circle is finished;   knitting every stitch around;   for every 2 stitches, decreasing the stitch count by 1 until a sixth complete circle is finished;   knitting every stitch around; and   passing the yarn from the last stitch through all the remaining stitches.