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, comprising: 
 a basic shell having an outer surface, wherein said basic shell is adapted to cover a portion of a wearer's head; and    a phosphorescent material integrated into said basic shell, 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 coats said outer surface of said basic shell.  
   
   
       4 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material is mixed with a polymer to form said basic shell.  
   
   
       5 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material covers substantially all of said basic shell.  
   
   
       6 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material covers portions of said basic shell.  
   
   
       7 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said phosphorescent material includes phosphorescent crystals positioned on strips that are affixed to said basic shell.  
   
   
       8 . 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, and a sports helmet.  
   
   
       9 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein said basic shell is formed from at least a polymer, including at least one of polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyamide, polypropylene, Acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, and polystyrene.  
   
   
       10 . The protective helmet of  claim 9 , wherein said phosphorescent material is blended with said polymer to form said basic shell.  
   
   
       11 . 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.  
   
   
       12 . The protective helmet of  claim 11 , 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.  
   
   
       13 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the protective helmet does not include any one of a battery and power source.  
   
   
       14 . A method of manufacturing a protective helmet configured to glow in the dark, the method comprising: 
 providing a phosphorescent material that is adapted to glow in the dark after being exposed to light;    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.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said integrating comprises mixing the phosphorescent material with the polymer to form the protective helmet.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said integrating comprises positioning the phosphorescent material onto the basic helmet to form the protective helmet.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said integrating comprises coating the basic helmet with the phosphorescent material to form the protective helmet.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said integrating comprises coating portions of the basic helmet to form the protective helmet.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer is at least one of polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, polyamide, polypropylene, Acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, and polystyrene.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the phosphorescent material includes at least one of high performance rare earth doped strontium aluminate and strontium silicate crystals.