Helmet adjunct for retention of portable audio device

• US 8,245,326 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Tolve
• Original Assignee: Anthony Tolve
• Inventors: Tolve, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Self, Shelley
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOON, JANE SUJIN
• Application Number:
  US12/070,739
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 241/0, 2/61, 2/62, 2/66, 242/2, 242/3, 242/5, 217/1, 220/913, 290/5, 290/6, D14/217, D14/192, D32/18, D29/102, D29/103, 381/376, 381/370, 381/374, 206/320, 206/307, 224/929, 224/930, 224/181
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/306 Audio entertainment systems

Abstract

A holder for an MP3 player or other music or communication device is reversibly attached to a rigid helmet such as worn by motorcyclists. The back surface of the holder is configured to fit closely and integrally against the back surface of the helmet. A spoiler forms the top of the holder to minimize wind lift, prevent wind from dislodging the holder, and to direct air flow along the helmet and over the holder. The MP3 player is disposed in a compartment within the body of the holder and retained in the compartment by a stop-tab. An adapter is used to connect the MP3 player to an earphone assembly within the helmet. A volume control on the adapter enables the cyclist to adjust the volume while riding. The holder is reversibly attached to the helmet by means of a two component heavy duty interlock fastener system.

Claims

1. A holder to securely and reversibly attach a music or communication device to a rigid helmet, said holder comprising:

a body having a top, a bottom, a front and two side exterior surfaces and a back portion configured for integral attachment to an external surface of the helmet;

a spoiler disposed at the top of the body for minimizing wind lift and directing air flow along the helmet and smoothly over the holder;

a compartment within the body dimensioned to securely contain the device;

an opening situated in the bottom of the body through which the device is inserted into the compartment;

a slot disposed in the bottom of the body beneath the opening and extending into the body beneath the compartment;

a tongue having a proximal end, a distal end and an upper surface, said distal end being attached to the body within the slot and said proximal end extending beyond the opening;

a stop-tab disposed at the proximal end of the tongue at a right angle to the upper surface thereof, said stop-tab being situated in front of the opening such that when the tongue is depressed the stop-tab is no longer in front of the opening so the device can be inserted into the compartment through the opening and thereafter the tongue is released to spring upward and return the stop-tab to its location in front of the opening thereby preventing the device from being dislodged from the compartment; and

means for reversibly attaching the back portion of the holder to the helmet;

whereby when the holder is attached to the helmet and the device is securely contained within the compartment the user can participate in an activity while listening to the output of the device and the device cannot be dislodged during the activity.

2. A holder as described in claim 1 wherein the means for reversibly attaching the back portion of the holder to the helmet comprises a two component interlocking attachment assembly both components of which are identical, the first component being permanently attached to the back portion of the holder and the second component being permanently attached to the external surface of the helmet, said components providing a smooth surface when disengaged so they do not adhere to other fabrics or surfaces and said components enabling the holder to be disengaged from the helmet by being grasped and pulled forward.

3. A holder to securely and reversibly attach a music or communication device to a rigid helmet, said holder comprising:

a body having a top exterior surface, a bottom exterior surface, two side exterior surfaces, a front exterior surface, and a back exterior surface portion configured for integral attachment to an external surface of the helmet;

a spoiler, integral with the top exterior surface to minimize wind lift and direct air flow along the helmet and smoothly over the holder;

a compartment within the body dimensioned to contain the device;

an opening in the body for the insertion of the device into the compartment;

means for preventing the device from slipping out of the compartment, said means including a tab which when depressed allows access to the compartment; and

a two part interlocking attachment assembly both parts of which are identical, a first part being permanently attached to the external surface of the helmet and a second part being permanently attached to the back exterior surface portion of the body of the holder such that when the two parts are pressed together the holder is securely and reversibly attached to the helmet.

4. A holder as described in claim 3 wherein the back exterior surface portion is concave for an integral fit with a convex rear surface of the helmet.

5. A holder as described in claim 3 wherein the two parts of the interlocking attachment assembly provide a smooth surface when disengaged so that they do not adhere to other fabrics or surfaces and enable the holder to be disengaged from the helmet by being grasped and pulled forward.

6. A holder as described in claim 3 further comprising an adapter to convey a sound signal from the device to an earphone assembly within the helmet and including a volume control mechanism to enable the user to alter the volume of the sound signal while the device is contained within the body of the holder.

7. A method for securely and reversibly attaching a music or communication device to a rigid helmet containing an interior earphone assembly, said method comprising:

obtaining a holder assembly which comprises;

a body having a top, a bottom, a front and two side exterior surfaces and a back portion configured for integral attachment to an external surface of the helmet, a spoiler integral with the top exterior surface to minimize wind lift and direct air flow along the helmet and over the holder, a compartment within the body dimensioned to contain the device, an opening in the body for insertion of the device into the compartment, means for preventing the device from slipping out of the compartment including a tab which when depressed enables access to the compartment, a two part attachment assembly having a first component for attachment to the external surface of the helmet and an identical second component for attachment to the back portion of the body of the holder to reversibly attach the back portion of the holder to the helmet, and an adapter to convey a sound signal from the device to the earphone assembly, said adapter including a volume control so the user can alter the volume of the sound signal;

attaching the first component to the external surface of the helmet;

attaching the second component to the back portion of the body of the holder;

attaching the holder to the helmet by pressing the second component on the back portion of the body against the first component on the external surface of the helmet to securely and reversibly affix the holder to the helmet;

depressing the tab to allow access to the compartment in the holder;

placing the device into the compartment in the holder;

connecting the adapter between the device and the earphone assembly within the helmet; and

adjusting the volume of the sound signal from the device;

whereby the user can engage in an activity while listening to the sound signal and the device will not become dislodged and at the end of the activity the device can be removed from the holder and the holder can be removed from the helmet.

8. A holder to securely and reversibly attach a music or communication device to a rigid helmet containing an interior earphone assembly, said holder comprising:

a body having a top exterior surface, a bottom exterior surface, two side exterior surfaces, a front exterior surface, and a back exterior surface portion configured for integral attachment to an external surface of the helmet;

a spoiler, integral with the top exterior surface to minimize wind lift and direct air flow along the helmet and smoothly over the holder;

a compartment within body dimensioned to contain the device;

an opening in the body for insertion of the device into the compartment;

means for preventing the device from slipping out of the compartment, said means including a tab which when depressed allows access to the compartment;

a two part interlocking attachment assembly having a first component permanently attached to the external surface of the helmet and a second identical component permanently attached to the back exterior surface portion of the body of the holder such that when the two parts are pressed together the holder is securely and reversibly attached to the helmet; and

an adapter to convey a sound signal from the device to the earphone assembly, said adapter including a volume control to enable the user to alter the volume of the sound signal while participating in an activity.