Safety apparatus for use with a helmet

Abstract

For improved visibility of an individual wearing a helmet to which a personal headlamp is attached by an adjustable band, a flexible strip carrying a series of light-emitting devices and/or reflectors is removably attached to the adjustable band by means of connectors which are adjustably movable along at least a portion of the length of the band. The light-emitting devices are supplied with power from the same electrochemical power source that operates the headlamp but controlled independently of the headlamp.

Claims

1. A safety apparatus for use with a helmet comprising: a headlamp assembly including a housing and a light emitting device mounted in said housing; a band comprising a loop of flexible material connected to said housing and adapted to surround, at least partially, a helmet worn by an individual, whereby the headlamp assembly can be supported on said helmet, the length of said band being adjustable for tightening said band about said helmet; an elongated flexible strip having elements from the group consisting of light emitting elements and light reflecting elements, at spaced locations along its length, said elongated flexible strip having a substantially fixed length, extending along a part of the length of said band, and being connected to said band at a plurality of locations along the length of the band, the connection of the elongated strip to said band at least at one of said locations being adjacent an end of said strip and including a connector adjustably movable lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of said band while the housing of said headlamp assembly is in a fixed relationship to said band, so that the substantially fixed length of the elongated flexible strip does not interfere with the tightening of said band about said helmet.

2. The safety apparatus according to claim 1, including a compartment in said housing for containing an electrochemical power supply, and a switch connected to said light emitting device and to said power supply, said switch being manually operable to connect said power supply to said light emitting device.

3. A safety apparatus for use with a helmet comprising: a headlamp assembly including a housing and a light emitting device mounted in said housing; a band comprising a loop of flexible material connected to said housing and adapted to surround, at least partially, a helmet worn by an individual, whereby the headlamp assembly can be supported on said helmet, the length of said band being adjustable for tightening said band about said helmet; an elongated flexible strip having elements from the group consisting of light emitting elements and light reflecting elements, at spaced locations along its length, said elongated flexible strip having a substantially fixed length, extending along a part of the length of said band, and being connected to said band at a plurality of locations along the length of the band, the connection of the elongated strip to said band at least at one of said locations being adjacent an end of said strip and including a connector adjustably movable lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of said band; a compartment in said housing for containing an electrochemical power supply; a first switch connected to said light emitting device and to said power supply, said first switch being manually operable to connect said power supply to said light emitting device; a plurality of light emitting elements supported on said elongated flexible strip and spaced from one another along the length of said elongated flexible strip; and an electrical connection from said plurality of light emitting elements to said electrochemical power supply for supplying electrical current from said power supply to said plurality of light emitting elements, said electrical connection including a second manually operable switch for controlling electrical current from said power supply to said plurality of light emitting elements.

4. A safety apparatus for use with a helmet comprising: a headlamp assembly including a housing and a light emitting device mounted in said housing; a band comprising a loop of flexible material connected to said housing and adapted to surround, at least partially, a helmet worn by an individual, whereby the headlamp assembly can be supported on said helmet, the length of said band being adjustable for tightening said band about said helmet; and an elongated flexible strip having elements from the group consisting of light emitting elements and light reflecting elements, at spaced locations along its length, said elongated flexible strip having a substantially fixed length, extending along a part of the length of said band, and being connected to said band at a plurality of locations along the length of the band, the connection of the elongated strip to said band at least at one of said locations being adjacent an end of said strip and including a connector adjustably movable lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of said band; wherein said connector includes a clip for securing said elongated strip to said connector, said clip allowing manual connection of the elongated flexible strip to said connector.

5. The safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible strip is connected to said band by connectors located on said band at locations adjacent, and on opposite sides of, said housing, each of said connectors being adjustably movable lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of said band.

6. A safety apparatus for use with a helmet comprising: a headlamp assembly including a housing and a light emitting device mounted in said housing; a band comprising a loop of flexible material connected to said housing and adapted to surround, at least partially, a helmet worn by an individual, whereby the headlamp assembly can be supported on said helmet, the length of said band being adjustable for tightening said band about said helmet; an elongated flexible strip having elements from the group consisting of light emitting elements and light reflecting elements, at spaced locations along its length, said elongated flexible strip having a substantially fixed length, extending along a part of the length of said band, and being connected to said band at a plurality of locations along the length of the band, the connection of the elongated strip to said band at least at one of said locations being adjacent an end of said strip and including a connector adjustably movable lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of said band; and a plurality of elongated light reflecting elements fixed to said elongated flexible strip at spaced locations along its length.

7. The safety apparatus according to claim 1, including a connecting device, and wherein said band includes first and second portions extending from said headlamp assembly to said connecting device, said first and second portions being adjustably connected to said connecting device whereby the length of said band can be adjusted for tightening said band about said helmet.

8. The safety apparatus according to claim 7, including a compartment in said housing for containing an electrochemical power supply, and a switch connected to said light emitting device and to said power supply, said switch being manually operable to connect said power supply to said light emitting device.

9. The safety apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said elongated flexible strip is connected to said band by connectors located on said band at locations adjacent, and on opposite sides of, said housing, each of said connectors being adjustably movable lengthwise along at least a portion of the length of said band.

10. A safety apparatus for use with a helmet comprising: a headlamp assembly including a housing, a light emitting device mounted in said housing, a compartment in said housing for containing an electrochemical power supply, and a first switch connected to said light emitting device said first switch being manually operable to connect said power supply to said light emitting device; a band comprising a loop of flexible material connected to said housing and adapted to surround, at least partially, a helmet worn by an individual, whereby the headlamp assembly can be supported on said helmet; an elongated flexible strip having a substantially fixed length, extending along a part of the length of said band, and being connected to said band at a plurality of locations along the length of the band, the connection of the elongated strip to said band at least at one of said locations adjacent an end of said strip including a clip allowing disconnection of the elongated strip from said band at least at said one of said locations; a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on said elongated flexible strip said elements being spaced from one another along the length of said elongated flexible strip; and an electrical connection from said plurality of light emitting elements to said electrochemical power supply, said electrical connection including a second manually operable switch for controlling electrical current from said power supply to said plurality of light emitting elements.

11. The safety apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said clip is adjustably movable along at least a portion of the length of said band.

12. The safety apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second switch is mounted on said elongated strip.

13. The safety apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said elongated strip includes a plurality of light reflecting elements, at spaced locations along its length.

14. The safety apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the length of said band is adjustable.

15. The safety apparatus according to claim 10, including a connecting device engageable with a rear surface of a helmet, said band including first and second portions extending from said headlamp assembly to said connecting device, said first and second portions being adjustably connected to said connecting device whereby the safety apparatus can be fitted to a helmet.

16. The safety apparatus according to claim 10, including a connecting device engageable with a rear surface of a helmet, said band including first and second portions extending from said headlamp assembly to said connecting device, said first and second portions being adjustably connected to said connecting device whereby the safety apparatus can be fitted to a helmet, and said connecting device including a clip allowing disconnection of the elongated strip from said connecting device.

17. A safety apparatus for use with a helmet comprising: a headlamp assembly including a housing, a light emitting device mounted in said housing, a compartment in said housing for containing an electrochemical power supply, and a switch connected to said light emitting device said switch being manually operable to connect said power supply to said light emitting device; a band comprising a loop of flexible material connected to said housing and adapted to surround, at least partially, a helmet worn by an individual, whereby the headlamp assembly can be supported on said helmet; an elongated flexible strip having a plurality of light reflecting elements, at spaced locations along its length, said elongated flexible strip having a substantially fixed length, extending along a part of the length of said band, and being connected to said band at a plurality of locations along the length of the band, the connection of the elongated strip to said band at least at one of said locations adjacent an end of said strip including a clip allowing disconnection of the elongated strip from said band at least at said one of said locations.

18. The safety apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said clip is adjustably movable along at least a portion of the length of said band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the safety apparatus installed on a helmet;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the safety apparatus of the invention removed from the helmet;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the safety apparatus with its illuminated strip partially removed from the helmet band;

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a portion of the safety apparatus, illustrating how the illuminated strip is engaged with a clip on the helmet band; and

(5) FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic showing the connections of an electrochemical power supply to controls for operating the headlamp and for operating the series of light emitting devices on the flexible strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) As shown in FIG. 1, the safety apparatus 10 is removably installed on a helmet 12. In the example shown, the helmet is a conventional polyethylene hard hat of the kind worn by miners, construction workers, and others requiring protection from head injury. FIG. 2 shows the same safety apparatus 10 removed from the helmet so that details of its structure, hidden by the helmet in FIG. 1, can be seen.

(7) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the safety apparatus comprises a flexible band 14, which is formed into a loop surrounding the helmet at a location a short distance above the brim of the helmet. The band has two end portions 16 and 18, each of which extends through a pair of slots formed in a molded connecting device 20 engageable with a rear surface of the helmet. Each end portion extends rearward through one slot of a pair of adjacent slots and then forward through the other slot of the same pair. The length of the loop can be adjusted by manipulation of the end portions 16 and 18 of the band to tighten the loop and thereby the band to the helmet.

(8) An intermediate portion of the band extends through slots in a headlamp-mounting plate 22 on which is mounted a headlamp assembly 24 comprising a housing 26, a light-emitting device, such as a light-emitting diode (not shown), a lens 28 for concentrating the emitted light into a beam, and a push-button switch for making and breaking an electrical connection between the light emitting device and an electrochemical power supply, which can be a single electrochemical cell, or a battery, inside the housing 26. The housing 26 is preferably mounted on and between a pair of opposed brackets, one of which is bracket 30, to allow tilting adjustment of the headlamp beam.

(9) Except for the connecting device 20, the apparatus described thus far is similar to a conventional personal headlamp of the kind described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,812, granted on Aug. 4, 2009. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 7,568,812 is here incorporated by reference. The band 14 is preferably formed of a resilient natural or synthetic rubber that can be stretched in order to exert a tensile force holding the band firmly to the helmet 10 when the ends 16 and 18 of the band are pulled in the slots of the connecting device 20 to tighten the band. Alternatively the band can be made from other stretchable materials, such as a woven fabric and includes stretchable yarns

(10) The principal feature that distinguishes the apparatus of the invention from a conventional personal headlamp is an external strip 32, which includes a series of light-emitting devices 34 e.g., light-emitting diodes or LEDs, or a series of elongated light reflecting elements 36, and preferably both. The light emitting devices 34 are preferably, but not necessarily, in alternating, interspersed relationship with the light reflecting elements 36.

(11) The light emitting devices 34 are connected to a power source inside the headlamp assembly 24 through a cable 37, and through conductors (not shown) connected to cable 37 and disposed inside strip 32. Because of the internal conductors, and also because of the reflectors, the strip has very limited stretchability. To allow the flexible band 14 to be adjusted to fit the helmet, the strip 32 is attached to the band 14 in such a way that the band 14 is movable in the direction of its elongation relative to the strip 32. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, clips 38 and 40 are provided on portions of the band 14 at locations near, and on opposite sides of, the headlamp assembly 24. The band 14 extends though slots in these clips in such a way as to allow the band to be moved longitudinally relative to the clips. In other words, the positions of the clips 38 and 40 along the length of the band can be adjusted. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the band 14 extends into a slot 42 on the back of clip 40, passes behind a wall 44 on the back of the clip and extends outward from a slot 46 on the opposite edge of the wall 44. Each clip has an upper clamping member and a lower clamping member for engagement with a portion of the strip 32. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, clip 38 is provided with an upper clamping member 48 and a lower clamping member 50, which engage recesses 52 and 54 respectively on the upper and lower edges of the strip 32 so that the strip 32 can be removably connected to the band 14. Broken lines 56 and 58 in FIG. 4 illustrate the relative movement of the clip 38 on band 14 in directions indicated by line 60.

(12) When the band 14 is adjusted to fit the helmet by movement of its end portions 16 and 18 relative to the connecting device 20, the clips 38 and 40 can be moved relative to the band 14 so that strip 32 closely fits the exterior of the band 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The strip 32 is fitted to the connecting device 20 by the cooperation of upper and lower clamping members with recesses in the strip 32. These upper and lower clamping members and recesses, which are not shown in the drawings, are similar to the clamping members 48 and 50 and the recesses 52 and 54 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(13) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connecting device 20 is formed with concave upper and lower edges 56 and 58 for engagement with the convex surface at the rear of helmet 18. When the band is tightened about the helmet, portions of the band fit into a recess in the connecting device between the upper and lower edges 56 and 58.

(14) Although the headlamp and the light emitting devices are preferably operated from the same power source, i.e., the electrochemical power supply located inside the headlamp assembly, the light emitting devices on the strip 32 may be, and preferably are, operable independently of the headlamp. Moreover, multiple modes of illumination may be employed.

(15) In the embodiment shown, the emission of light through lens 28 is controlled by a push-button 62 shown in FIGS. 1-3. This push-button can not only turn the light beam on and off, but can also set brightness levels and establish a flashing mode.

(16) The emission of light through light emitting devices 34 is controlled by a push-button 64 adjacent the end of strip 32 remote from cable 37. This push-button can be used to turn the light emitting devices on and off and can also be used to establish a flashing mode.

(17) As shown in FIG. 5, the headlamp assembly housing 26, illustrated by a broken line rectangle, contains an electrochemical power supply 66, typically consisting of a two-cell battery. The battery is connected, through an on/off flash and brightness control circuit 68, to a light emitting diode (LED) 70, which serves as the headlamp. The control circuit 66 is operated by push-button switch 62, which, by successive depressions, can turn the LED on in a bright mode, a dimmed mode, and a flashing mode, and then turn the LED off. The light emitting devices 34, which are also preferably light emitting diodes are powered by the same electrochemical power supply 66 through an on/off, flash control circuit 72 by the operation push-button switch 64, which on successive depressions, can turn the light-emitting devices 34 on in a continuous mode, establish a flashing mode, and turn the devices 34 off. Suitable circuits for use as control circuits 68 and 72 are well-known in the field of personal headlamps, and examples can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,044,636, granted on Oct. 25, 2011. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 8,044,636 is here incorporated by reference.