Interchangeable system and method of attachment for helmet accessories

Abstract

Abstract: A system and method for attaching and interchanging accessories to helmets and other surfaces featuring hard exteriors is described. One illustrative embodiment is a system comprised of two pairings; One pairing ( 22 ) comprised of an adhesive tape ( 12 ) adhered on alternate sides to a magnet ( 14 ) and helmet ( 10 ) or similar hard surface area. The second pairing ( 24 ) comprised of adhesive tape ( 18 ) adhered on alternate sides to magnet ( 16 ) or ferromagnetic material and accessory ( 26 ) of variable shape, form, and composition; Individual pairings constructed such that pairings can be magnetically attached to each other with tapes ( 12 ) and ( 18 ) laying distal to the point of magnetic attraction. Respective pairings can be removed or replaced without limit utilizing principles of magnetic attraction. Other embodiments are described and shown.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for attaching at least one detachably secured accessory to a helmet and other hard surfaces comprising: 
     
     
         2 . providing a means to build a base pairing by attaching an adhesive to a magnet, 
     
     
         3 . providing a means to build an accessory pairing by attaching a second piece of said adhesive to a second magnet, 
     
     
         4 . providing a means to attach said base paring to exterior surface of said helmet to form a first construction, 
     
     
         5 . providing a means to attach said accessory pairing and said accessory to form a second construction, said accessory being a non-magnetic body, 
     
     
         6 . providing a means to attach said first construction to said second construction wherein said first construction hosts said magnetically attracted second construction,
 whereby said constructions can be attached at their adjacent sides of opposite polarity by magnetic attraction.   
     
     
         7 . A method for interchanging detachably secured accessories to helmets and other hard surfaces comprising: 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first constructions has been attached to a position or positions on the exterior surface of said helmet to form a layout and said first construction magnetically hosts said second construction, 
     
     
         9 . A means to manually remove said second construction and replace said second construction with a third construction comprising a second accessory pairing and a second accessory, said second accessory pairing comprised of a third piece of said adhesive and a third permanent magnet,
 whereby said first construction can be used to host a plurality of interchangeable accessory constructions.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said second accessory is a ferromagnetic body and said second accessory can be attached directly to said first construction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first magnet and said second magnets are permanent magnets each having sides of North and South polarity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive and said second adhesives are a double-sided adhesive tape. 
     
     
         13 . The adhesives of  claim 13 , wherein said first adhesive and said second adhesives are double-sided adhesive foam tape constructed of acrylic or neoprene. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory is a magnet and said magnet is attached directly to said first construction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said accessory is a ferromagnetic body and said accessory is attached directly to said first construction. 
     
     
         16 . A method for interchanging at least one detachably secured accessory to a helmet using a hook and loop system comprising: 
     
     
         17 . providing a means to attach a pairing comprising one half of a hook and loop tape system with a rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive backing to a helmet to host a second pairing comprising the other half of a hook and loop tape system, wherein the second half also has a rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive backing and is attached to the posterior side of an accessory using said adhesive backing, 
     
     
         18 . providing a means to attach the adjacent hook and loop sides together,
 whereby said accessory can be positioned or removed from the host pairing by means of manual force.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a plurality of accessories can be attached to said helmet at a plurality of locations on the exterior surface of said helmet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said accessories can be released from the host and re-positioned to any available host pairing on the exterior surface of the helmet.