HANDS FREE LIGHTING DEVICES

• US 20100313335A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Waters
• Original Assignee: Michael Waters
• Inventors: Waters, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,757,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/209.13
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/244 Means for mounting lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/245 Means for mounting audio or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

There is provided headgear having a variety of components. In one form, the headgear includes a camera mounted to a brim thereof. Camera accessories that can be mounted to the headgear can include a switch, a control panel, a view finder, one or more lights. In another form, the headgear includes a heat sink mounted to the brim to dissipate heat generated by powered components of the headgear, such as the camera, a circuit board, one or more lights, or the like. In yet another form, the headgear includes a rotary switch for energizing the one or more lights and/or operating the camera.

Claims

1. Headgear comprising:

a head-fitting portion configured to be received on a wearer'"'"'s head;

a brim portion having upper and lower major surfaces and an outboard edge extending between the upper and lower major surfaces;

a camera having a lens thereof mounted to the brim portion; and

a power source mounted to at least one of the head-fitting portion and the brim portion, and electrically connected to the camera.

2. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the lens of the camera is mounted generally centrally to a front portion of the outboard edge of the brim portion.

3. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the lens of the camera is mounted adjacent at least one of the upper and lower major surfaces of the brim portion.

4. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the camera lens is arranged to generally face forwardly from the brim portion, and

one or more light sources mounted to at least one of the head-fitting portion or the brim portion so that the one or more light sources are positioned to project light generally forwardly of the brim portion.

5. The headgear of claim 4 wherein the camera is adapted for taking pictures, and the one or more light sources are electrically connected to the camera to function as a flash when a picture is taken with the camera.

6. The headgear of claim 1 further comprising a control member mounted to the brim portion for operating the camera.

7. The headgear of claim 6 wherein the control member comprises a switch having momentary positions corresponding to zoom functions for the camera.

8. The headgear of claim 4 further comprising a thermally conductive material having a thin, flat configuration and having a major heat dissipating portion mounted adjacent to the brim upper major surface and contacting at least one of the one or more light sources or the digital camera in order to dissipate heat generated therefrom.

9. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a digital camera and operates at less than 30 frames per second.

10. The headgear of claim 1 further comprising a control panel mounted to the brim portion and electrically connected to the camera, wherein the control panel comprises a switch configured to send a control signal to the camera.

11. The headgear of claim 10 wherein the camera is adapted for taking at least one of pictures or video and the control panel further comprises a connection device for downloading images or video taken by the camera to external devices.

12. The headgear of claim 10 wherein the camera is adapted for taking pictures and video, and the control panel further comprises a second switch having an off condition, a snapshot condition, and a video condition for corresponding operating states of the camera.

13. The headgear of claim 1 further comprising:

a printed circuit board connected to the camera; and

a first thermally conductive member having a thin, flat configuration and mounted between the brim upper major surface and the printed circuit board in order to dissipate heat generated therefrom.

14. The headgear of claim 13 further comprising a second thermally conductive member mounted below the printed circuit board to dissipate heat generated therefrom.

15. The headgear of claim 14 wherein the camera is a digital camera and wherein the first and second thermally conductive members are further configured to block radio frequency emissions generated by operation of the digital camera.

16. The headgear of claim 15 wherein the digital camera operates at least at 30 frames per second.

17. The headgear of claim 1 further comprising a view finder mounted to the brim portion to display an image generated by the camera lens.

18. The headgear of claim 17 wherein the view finder is pivotably mounted to the brim portion between a stored position to extend along the brim portion and an operative position to project downwardly from the brim lower major surface for viewing of the image generated by the camera lens.

19. Lighted headgear comprising:

a brim having upper and lower major surfaces and a perimeter edge therebetween;

at least one light source mounted on the brim for directing illumination outwardly of the headgear;

a power source for selectively energizing the at least one light source; and

a thermally conductive material having a thin, flat configuration and having a major heat dissipating portion mounted to the brim to engage the at least one light source for dissipating heat generated therefrom.

20. The lighted headgear of claim 19, wherein the brim has a curvature thereof and the major heat dissipating portion of the thermally conductive material conforms to the brim curvature.

21. The lighted headgear of claim 19, wherein the brim perimeter edge has a curvature thereof and wherein the major heat dissipating portion includes an outer edge thereof, the outer edge conforming to the brim perimeter edge curvature.

22. Lighted headgear comprising:

a brim having a perimeter edge with an opening formed in the edge thereof;

at least one light source mounted to the brim;

a rotary switch mounted in the opening of the brim perimeter edge having a portion received in the brim and a portion exposed for being turned by a user to selectively energize and de-energize the at least one light source.

23. The lighted headgear of claim 22 further comprising a power source in electrical communication with the rotary switch to selectively energize the at least one light source.

24. The lighted headgear of claim 22 further comprising upper and lower brim covering portions, and wherein the rotary switch is partially disposed between the upper and lower brim covering portions.

25. The lighted headgear of claim 22 wherein the rotary switch includes a push button mechanism so that the rotary switch can be turned and also pushed.