Patent Application
20120309262
The present invention relates generally to collectable helmets, and more particularly, to collectable helmets with interactive features.
Collectable helmets are well known in the art and are generally comprised of replicas of helmets representing various sports teams or headgear worn by particular athletes. In some known embodiments, the collectable helmets are full-size; that is, they have substantially the same dimensions as the helmets worn by the athletes. In other known embodiments, the collectable helmets are miniature versions of actual helmets. Riddell is a manufacturer of full-size and miniature collectable helmets.
One common disadvantage in these known collectable helmets is that they are generally intended for display purposes only. That is, while one can pick up the collectable helmet to examine and admire it, the collectable helmet typically does not have any other interesting features other than being a replica of the actual helmet.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a collectable helmet that can serve the basic purpose of displaying the helmet, but also includes interactive features. What is further needed is a collectable helmet that can transform into a representation of an athlete wearing the collectable helmet. What is also needed is a collectable helmet that provides a game aspect. What is still further needed is a collectable helmet that provides a game aspect associated with or related to the type or theme of the collectable helmet.
The present invention provides for a collectable helmet in which a figure, such as a representation of an athlete, may be compressed within the collectable helmet. In its compressed configuration, the collectable helmet may be displayed in a manner similar to traditional collectable helmets. Upon activation by a user, the representation of the athlete is released from the collectable helmet such that the representation of the athlete appears to be wearing the collectable helmet.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the figure is comprised of three sections: a first section resembling a head, a second section resembling a torso with arms, and a third section resembling a lower portion of a body, such as a pair of legs with feet, on a base. The figure may be compressed within the helmet such that each of the first section resembling a head, the second section resembling a torso with arms, and the portion of the third section resembling a pair of legs with feet are completely or substantially covered by the helmet. Accordingly, when the figure is compressed within the helmet, the predominant appearance is that of a collectable helmet and a base.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a collectable helmet that includes an associated game play. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play is associated with or related to the type or theme of the collectable helmet. For example, in various embodiments of the present invention, a baseball-themed collectable helmet could include a moveable bat-like object attached to the base for baseball-type game play, a hockey-themed collectable helmet could include a moveable hockey stick-like object attached to the base for hockey-like game play, and a football-themed collectable helmet could include a football-like object that is struck by a moveable object attached to the base that simulates a kicking action.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play can be accomplished individually or interactively with another user. For example, for individualized play, the baseball-themed collectable helmet may be used in conjunction with a play mat, wherein such play mat resembles a baseball field. The user of the baseball-themed collectable helmet can use the moveable bat-like object attached to the base baseball-themed collectable helmet to strike a ball or disk across the mat. As another example, a user of a first baseball-themed collectable helmet could launch a ball or disk from the base of the first baseball-themed collectable helmet toward a second baseball-themed collectable helmet, and the user of the second baseball-themed collectable helmet tries to strike the ball or disk with the moveable bat-like object attached to the base of the second baseball-themed collectable helmet. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the game play can be accomplished whether or not the figure is compressed into the collectable helmet.
A more complete understanding the collectable helmet with interactive features will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which will first be described briefly.
The present invention provides a collectable helmet with interactive features. In the detailed description that follows, like reference numbers are used to indicate like elements appearing in one or more of the figures.
The helmet 102 has an interior cavity 120 and a stem 122 extending downward from the top of the interior cavity 120. The first section 110 and second section 112 are capable of moving longitudinally along the lower body portion 116. The third section 114 has an interior space 124 capable of substantially receiving the stem 122 such that the stem 122 reaches into the base portion 104 of the interior space 124. The interior cavity 120 of the helmet 102 is capable of at least substantially covering the first section 110, the second section 112 and the lower body portion 116 when the collectable helmet 100 is in its compressed (i.e. display) configuration.
In order to retain the collectable helmet 100 in its compressed configuration, the base portion 104 includes a plate 152 having an opening 154 and a second spring 156, preferably a helical compression spring, wherein the plate 152 is capable of substantially lateral movement and the second spring 156, when compressed, has sufficient force to move the plate 152 substantially laterally. The stem 122 has a groove 158 proximate to the end of the stem 122. As the collectable helmet 100 is placed in its compressed configuration, the end of the stem 122 moves the plate 152 substantially laterally and compresses the second spring 156 sufficient to allow the end of the stem 122 to pass through the opening 154 until the groove 158 substantially aligns with the opening 154. When the groove 158 and the opening 154 are substantially aligned, the second spring 156 moves the plate 152 (i.e., the edge of the opening 154) substantially laterally into the groove 158, thereby allowing the collectable helmet 100 to be secured in its compressed configuration. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a spacer 190 is utilized to maintain the substantially vertical position of the stem 122, to limit the distance in which the spring 140 can be compressed and aid in the alignment of the groove 158 with the plate 152 (i.e., the edge of the opening 154). The spacer 190 may be oriented concentrically around and exterior to the stem 122 and the spring 140, or alternatively, concentrically around and between the stem 122 and the spring 140. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the end of the stem 122 is rounded and the opening 154 has a beveled edge to allow the end of the stem 122 to pass more easily through the opening 154.
The bottom edge of the helmet 102 has a lip 170 and the top of first section 110 has a rim 172 such that the lip 170 is engageable with the rim 172 to prevent the helmet 102 from separating from the first section 110 when the collectable helmet 100 is in its expanded configuration. Also, the bottom of the first section has a second lip 174 and the top of the second section 112 has a plate 176 such that the second lip 174 is engageable with the plate 176 to prevent the first section 110 from separating from the second section 112 when the collectable helmet 100 is in its expanded configuration. Furthermore, the bottom of the second section 112 has a third lip 178 and the third section 114 has a protrusion 180 such that the third lip 178 is engageable with the protrusion 180 to prevent the second section 112 from separating from the third section 114 when the collectable helmet 100 is in its expanded configuration.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base portion 104 includes a disk retention mechanism 310 and disk release mechanism 312 for propelling the disk 306, ball or other suitable object. The disk retention mechanism 310 has an opening 314 and the disk 306 is retained by the disk retention mechanism 310 after the disk 306 is passed through the opening 314. After the disk 306 is retained by the disk retention mechanism 310, the disk release mechanism 312 is used to push the disk 306 through the opening 314, the opening 314 being less than the diameter of the disk 306, and once sufficient force is applied to pass the disk 306 through the opening 314, the disk 306 is launched from the base portion 104.
As mentioned above, the collectable helmet of the present invention can vary in theme.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collectable helmet 10 is primarily constructed out of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer, which has the qualities of strength, rigidity and durability and is receptive to the addition of pigments. Other materials that have the ability to be injection molded or extruded may also be utilized.
Having thus described a preferred embodiment of a collectable helmet with play features, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain advantages of the invention have been achieved. It should also be appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and alternative embodiments thereof may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The invention is further defined by the following claims.
