HEADWEAR COMPRISING REARVIEW MIRRORS

• US 20110051273A1
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William J. Tronvig
• Original Assignee: William J. Tronvig
• Inventors: Tronvig, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/876
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0426 Rear view devices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/029 Additional functions or features, e.g. protection for other parts of the face such as ears, nose or mouth; Screen wipers or cleaning devices

Abstract

Headwear wearable by a user is provided having rearview mirrors mounted thereon or incorporated therein via robust mounting structures or mechanisms. The rearview mirrors can be attached to the headwear such that the mirrors are movable between a stowed or collapsed configuration in which the mirror is at least partially hidden from the user'"'"'s view and a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image to the user. The headwear may be goggles, helmets or other structures wearable on the head of a user. Rearview mirrors mountable to headwear are also provided.

Claims

1. Goggles wearable on a head of a user, comprising:

a frame having an aperture;

a lens supported in the aperture of the frame;

a first and a second support arm each having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each of the first and the second support arms coupled to the frame such that the second support arm is offset from and in substantially parallel arrangement with the first support arm; and

a mirror pivotably supported by the first and second support arms, the mirror movable between a collapsed configuration in which the distal end of each of the first and the second support arms is proximate the frame and the mirror is substantially parallel to and between the first and the second support arms and a deployed configuration in which the distal end of each of the first and the second support arms is remote from the frame and the mirror is positioned to provide the user with a rear view image viewable through the lens.

2. The goggles of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a connection structure for selectively securing the first and the second support arms in the collapsed configuration.

3. The goggles of claim 1 wherein the mirror is rotatable about a rotation axis at the distal end of each of the first and the second support arms to provide selective angular adjustments of the mirror when in the deployed configuration.

4. The goggles of claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror housing, the mirror housing coupled to the mirror and including a connection structure for selectively securing the mirror housing to at least one of the first and the second support arms in the collapsed configuration.

5. The goggles of claim 1 wherein the frame includes lugs to rigidly space the proximal end of each of the first and the second support arms outwardly from the lens.

6. Goggles wearable on a head of a user, comprising:

a frame having an aperture;

a lens supported in the aperture of the frame;

an elongated support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the support arm rotatably coupled to the frame; and

a mirror movably coupled to the distal end of the support arm, the mirror movable between a collapsed configuration in which the distal end of the support arm is proximate the frame and a deployed configuration in which the distal end of the support arm is remote from the frame and the mirror is positioned to provide the user with a rear view image viewable through the lens.

7. The goggles of claim 6 wherein the mirror is movably coupled to the distal end of the support arm via a ball and socket joint.

8. The goggles of claim 6 wherein the frame includes a connection structure for selectively securing the support arm in the collapsed configuration.

9. The goggles of claim 6 wherein the elongated support arm is coupled to the frame such that the mirror is selectively positionable between a first rear viewing position to a left side of the user and a second rear viewing position to a right side of the user.

10. The goggles of claim 6 wherein the elongated support arm is rearward of a front surface of the lens when the mirror is in the collapsed configuration.

11. A helmet comprising:

a helmet structure having a recess in a peripheral portion thereof;

a support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the support arm coupled to the helmet structure; and

a mirror coupled to the distal end of the support arm, the mirror movable between a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image and a stored configuration in which the mirror is at least partially received in the recess of the helmet structure.

12. The helmet of claim 11 wherein the helmet structure includes a connection structure for selectively securing the mirror at least partially in the recess.

13. The helmet of claim 11 wherein the support arm includes at least a first and a second link, the first link rotatably coupled to the helmet structure to rotate about a first axis of rotation, and the second link pivotably coupled to the first link to rotate about a second axis of rotation.

14. The helmet of claim 11 wherein the mirror is movably coupled to the distal end of the support arm via a ball and socket joint.

15. The helmet of claim 11 wherein only a portion of the mirror is received in the recess of the helmet structure when the mirror is in the stored configuration.

16. A helmet comprising:

a helmet structure;

a base rigidly coupled to the helmet structure; and

a mirror coupled to the base, the mirror being rotatable about a first axis of rotation about the base and rotatable at a second location about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation.

17. The helmet of claim 16 wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.

18. The helmet of claim 16 wherein the helmet structure includes a storage recess and the mirror is movable between a deployed configuration in which a viewing surface of the mirror is positioned to provide a rear view image and a stored configuration in which the mirror is proximate the recess and at least partially within a projected outer profile of the helmet structure.

19. A rearview mirror comprising:

a base mountable to a helmet; and

a mirror coupled to the base, the mirror being rotatable about a first axis of rotation projecting perpendicularly from a center point of the base and rotatable at a second location about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation.

20. The rearview mirror of claim 19 wherein the first axis of rotation is perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.