Method of manufacturing a decorated helmet

Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a decorated helmet, said method comprising the steps of: positioning a rigid helmet shell at a selected location, said rigid helmet shell having a smoothly curved outer surface; applying a decoration to a selected side of a plastic sheet to provide a decorated plastic sheet side, said plastic sheet comprised of vacuum-formable plastic material which will not adhere to the rigid helmet shell when heated and applied thereto in heated condition; heating the plastic sheet after the decoration has been applied to the selected side of said plastic sheet; effecting relative movement between said plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell to bring the decorated plastic sheet side into direct engagement with the smoothly curved outer surface of said helmet shell while the plastic sheet is in heated condition; applying a vacuum to said plastic sheet while the plastic sheet is in heated condition at the decorated plastic sheet side thereof to stretch said plastic sheet and mold said plastic sheet while said plastic sheet is in heated condition directly about and in direct engagement with the smoothly curved outer surface of said rigid helmet shell over the full extent of engagement with the decoration sandwiched directly between said plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell and said plastic sheet covering said smoothly curved outer surface, and with no adhesive or bonding existing between said plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell; cooling said molded plastic sheet on said rigid helmet shell with the molded plastic sheet in direct engagement with and covering the smoothly curved outer surface and no bonding taking place between said molded plastic sheet and said smoothly curved outer surface; and retaining said molded plastic sheet on said rigid helmet shell after cooling thereof with the decoration disposed between said rigid helmet shell and said molded plastic sheet whereby said molded plastic sheet forms a solid cover affording protection for said decoration and said smoothly curved outer surface, said plastic sheet being retained on said rigid helmet shell, covering said smoothly curved outer surface, and completely absent a bond between said molded plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell, said plastic sheet when in heated condition being stretched at least 200 percent when said plastic sheet is molded directly about said rigid helmet shell in unbonded condition, and said plastic sheet being heated to a temperature within the range of from about 225 degrees Fahrenheit to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit prior to bringing the decorated plastic sheet side into direct engagement with the rigid helmet shell.

Claim 2

A method of manufacturing a decorated helmet, said method comprising the steps of: positioning a rigid helmet shell at a selected location, said rigid helmet shell having a smoothly curved outer surface; applying a decoration to a selected side of a plastic sheet to provide a decorated plastic sheet side, said plastic sheet comprised of vacuum-formable plastic material which will not adhere to the rigid helmet shell when heated and applied thereto in heated condition; heating the plastic sheet after the decoration has been applied to the selected side of said plastic sheet; effecting relative movement between said plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell to bring the decorated plastic sheet side into direct engagement with the smoothly curved outer surface of said helmet shell while the plastic sheet is in heated condition; applying a vacuum to said plastic sheet while the plastic sheet is in heated condition at the decorated plastic sheet side thereof to stretch said plastic sheet and mold said plastic sheet while said plastic sheet is in heated condition directly about and in direct engagement with the smoothly curved outer surface of said rigid helmet shell over the full extent of engagement with the decoration sandwiched directly between said plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell and said plastic sheet covering said smoothly curved outer surface, and with no adhesive or bonding existing between said plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell; cooling said molded plastic sheet on said rigid helmet shell with the molded plastic sheet in direct engagement with and covering the smoothly curved outer surface and no bonding taking place between said molded plastic sheet and said smoothly curved outer surface; and retaining said molded plastic sheet on said rigid helmet shell after cooling thereof with the decoration disposed between said rigid helmet shell and said molded plastic sheet whereby said molded plastic sheet forms a solid cover affording protection for said decoration and said smoothly curved outer surface, said plastic sheet being retained on said rigid helmet shell, covering said smoothly curved outer surface, and completely absent a bond between said molded plastic sheet and said rigid helmet shell, said plastic sheet when in heated condition being stretched at least 200 percent when said plastic sheet is molded directly about said rigid helmet shell in unbonded condition, and said plastic sheet being heated to a temperature within the range of from about 225 degrees Fahrenheit to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit prior to bringing the decorated plastic sheet side into direct engagement with the rigid helmet shell.