Safety light apparatus for headwear

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light apparatus for headwear including an at least partially hollow, elongate housing for mounting to the headwear, at least one light located inside the elongate housing that is visible from the outside of the elongate housing, and at least one battery for powering the at least one light, such that when the light apparatus is mounted to the headwear, an orientation of the headwear can be determined.

Claims

1. A light apparatus for headwear comprising: an at least partially hollow, elongate housing for mounting to the headwear, the elongate housing being mounted in a front to back configuration, at least one light located inside the elongate housing that is visible from the outside of the elongate housing, a base member or an intermediate member or both that are connected to the elongate housing and that at least partially enclose the at least one light inside the elongate housing wherein the base member comprises at least one mounting arrangement for mounting the elongate housing to the base member, the intermediate member to the elongate housing, the intermediate member to the base member, or the base member to the headwear, and at least one battery for powering the at least one light, such that when the light apparatus is mounted to the headwear, an orientation of the headwear can be determined.

2. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate housing is made from a transparent or translucent or at least partially transparent or translucent material.

3. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate housing has a substantially rectangular or trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

4. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate housing comprises a front end and a rear end and the shape of the forward end is different from the shape of the rear end.

5. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate housing comprises a pair of side walls, rear wall and a front wall that define a lower edge of the elongate member.

6. The light apparatus of claim 5, wherein the length of the lower edge is curved.

7. The light apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lower edge comprises an inwardly extending lip for mounting the elongate member to the headwear.

8. The light apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an upper wall and wherein the pair of side walls, upper wall, rear wall and front wall define a cavity for locating one or more electrical components.

9. The light apparatus of claim 8, wherein the elongate housing comprises at least one aperture or port for accessing the at least one or more electrical components located inside the elongate housing.

10. The light apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more electrical components comprise any one or more of a printed circuit board (PCB), the at least one light, the at least one battery, an on/off switch or mode button or charging port.

11. The light apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one or more electrical components comprise three lights and two batteries arranged alternating and in series along a length of the PCB.

12. The light apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical components comprise the on/off switch or mode button and the charging port which are mounted to one end of the PCB.

13. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the length of the base member or the intermediate member or both is curved.

14. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base member or the intermediate member comprises an outwardly extending lip.

15. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light has multiple modes, including two or more of: on, off, flashing, alternating, pattern of flashing, or pattern of dimming.

16. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light is operable to change colour.

17. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate housing is replaceable or interchangeable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a light apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the light apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a front view of the light apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the elongate housing in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base member in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a section view of the elongate housing and the base member when assembled in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIGS. 7A to 7E show various views of the electrical components of the light apparatus in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a light apparatus in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the light apparatus as shown in FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 is back perspective view of the light apparatus as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

(12) FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the light apparatus as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(13) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a light apparatus 100 for headwear 102. In the embodiment shown, headwear 102 is in the form of a hardhat. However, a skilled person would understand that the headwear 102 may be any one of a: safety helmet, Fire Brigade helmet, jockey helmet, bicycle helmet, motorbike, or the alike.

(14) The light apparatus 100 includes a partially hollow, elongate housing 104 and attachment means, in the form of base member 106. Elongate housing 104 is made from a partially transparent or translucent material for allowing light inside the housing to be visible from the outside of the housing.

(15) As can be best seen in FIG. 3, housing 104 has a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. A skilled person, however, would understand that the cross-sectional area of housing 104 may be any size or shape suitable for housing components within.

(16) As can be best seen in FIG. 6, the front end of the elongate housing is shaped differently from one end of the elongate housing such that from the side an observer can determine which way a user is facing. Advantageously, when the light apparatus 100 is mounted to the headwear 102, an orientation of the headwear can be determined. Advantageously, a user wearing the lighting apparatus 100 will be visible from a distance. Further, a third party will preferably be able to establish not only where the wearer is but also the attitude of the wearer. This may be particularly important for notification purposes or to indicate that the wearer has received a notification for example.

(17) Turning back to FIGS. 1-3, elongate housing 104 includes a pair of elongate side walls 302 and 304, and an elongate upper wall 306 for connecting the pair of side walls together. Elongate housing further includes a front wall 308 for capping the front of the housing and a rear wall 310 for capping the rear of the housing 104. Each of the rear wall 310 and front wall 308 extends between an inner surface of side wall 302 and the inner surface of the side wall 304 substantially in a transverse direction to the length of elongate housing 104.

(18) Together the walls 302, 304, 306, 308 and 310 define a cavity 602 for locating various electrical components, including lights 702, 704 and 706 and batteries 708 and 710. Advantageously, the walls 302, 304, 306, 308 and 310 together protect the electrical components located within the housing 104 from debris or detritus which may damage the components and/or prevent light emitted from lights 702, 704 and 706 from being visible from the outside of elongate housing 104.

(19) Walls 302, 304, 308 and 310 define a lower edge of elongate housing 104. The lower edge includes an inwardly extending lip 604 for mounting the elongate housing 104 to base member 106. The length of the lower edge is curved and corresponds to the curve of base member 106 and headwear 102. Advantageously, the elongate housing may be mounted flush with the outer surface of the headwear.

(20) Elongate housing includes an aperture (or port) 404 for accessing an on/off button 714 for turning on and/or off lights 702, 706 and 708. Elongate housing 104 further includes another aperture (or port) 402 for accessing charging port 712 for charging batteries 708 and 710. In the embodiment shown, apertures 402 and 404 are located in rear wall 310. However, a skilled person would understand that in other embodiments the apertures (or ports) may be located in any of walls 302, 304, 306, 308 and 310.

(21) As mentioned above, light apparatus 100 further includes mounting means, in the form of base member 106 for mounting the elongate housing to the headwear (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The length of base member 106 is curved such that the base member can be mounted flush with the outer surface of headwear 102. The size and/or shape of base member 106 substantially corresponds to the size and shape of the cross sectional area defined substantially by the lower edge or perimeter of elongate housing 306.

(22) Base member 106 further includes an outwardly extending lip 506 for mounting elongate housing 306 thereto by allowing lip 604 of the elongate member to clip in underneath lip 506 of base member 106.

(23) Base member 106 further includes a lower surface 504 for mounting to the outer surface of headwear 102. Lower surface 504 includes one or more attachment means (not shown) for attaching the base member to the outer surface of headwear 102. A skilled person would understand that any suitable attachment means known in the art may be used for attaching the base member to headwear 102, for example one or more clips, hook and loop fasteners, tape, press fit means, or glue.

(24) As best shown in FIGS. 7A to 7E, light apparatus 100 further includes electrical components, in the form of printed circuit board (PCB) 700, lights 702, 704 and 706, batteries 708 and 710, charging port 712 and on/off button 714. The electrical components are located in the hollow portion defined by elongate housing 104. A skilled person would understand that in other embodiments, the number of electrical components may vary, for example, in another embodiment the light apparatus may only include a single battery or more than two batteries and/or include a single light, a pair of lights or more than three lights.

(25) In this embodiment, charging port 712 and on/off button 714 are located towards one end of PCB 700. Further lights 702, 704 and 706, batteries 708 and 710 are aligned in series in an alternating pattern. A skilled person, however, would understand that the components may be located relative to one another in arrangement suitable depending on the size and shape of housing 104.

(26) Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8-11. As can best be seen in FIG. 11, light apparatus 800 includes an elongate housing 804, a base member 806 and an intermediate member 807 (best shown in FIG. 11). Elongate housing 804 includes substantially all of the features as substantially described above in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7. In addition, elongate housing includes a number of outer recesses 1101 and a number of inner recesses (not shown).

(27) Base member 806 includes also substantially all of the features as substantially described above in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7. Base member 806, however, includes a lip 1100 locating elongate housing 804 relative thereto. Base member 806 further includes base attachment means in the form of clips 1102a, 1102b, 1102c and 1102d for engaging outer recesses 1101. Clips 1102a, 1102b, 1102c and 1102d each include a free end including a free edge 1104a, 1104b, 1104c, 1104d that is spaced apart from the outer surface of elongate housing 804. Advantageously, the free end of each clip 1102a, 1102b, 1102c and 1102d may be deflected away from outer surface of the elongate housing from an engaged position (as best shown in FIGS. 8-10) to a temporary disengaged position to allow removal of the elongate housing and intermediate member 807 from the base member.

(28) In some embodiments, the light apparatus may include an intermediate member for at least partially closing an opening in the elongate member. Similar to the base member, the intermediate member may be elongate and have a substantially constant thickness. The length of the intermediate member may be curved. Preferably, the size and shape of the base member corresponds to at least a portion of an upper surface of the base member. Advantageously, the intermediate member may be positioned flush with the upper surface of the base member.

(29) Intermediate member 807 is best shown in FIG. 11 and includes an outwardly extending lip 1106 which extends around the perimeter of the intermediate member for engaging with the lip of the elongate member.

(30) Intermediate member 807 includes intermediate member attachment means, in the form of resilient clips 1108a, 1108b, 1108c, 1108d, 1108c, 1108e, 1108f, for attaching intermediate member 807 to elongate housing 804. Clips 1108a, 1108b, 1108c, 1108d, 1108c, 1108e, 1108f attach to an inside surface of elongate housing 804. Advantageously, elongate housing 804 and intermediate member 807 form an enclosure for housing electrical components 1110.

(31) Light apparatus 800 includes further includes electrical components 1110. Electrical components 1110 include substantially all of the features as substantially described above in relation to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7.

(32) In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

(33) Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

(34) In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.