Open vehicle lighting system utilizing detachable vehicle operator helmet mounted light

• US 4,195,328 A
• Filed: 06/19/1978
• Issued: 03/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Harris Jr
• Original Assignee: William R. Harris Jr
• Inventors: Harris, William R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US05/916,513
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 362/72, 362/105, 362/106, 362/157, 362/226
• US Class Current: 362/549
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/023 responsive to the lean angle of the cycle, e.g. changing intensity or switching sub-lights when cornering
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/00 Electric lighting devices without a self-contained power source, e.g. for mains connection

Abstract

A lighting system for an open vehicle such as a motorcycle or snowmobile incorporating the main headlight which is rigidly secured to the vehicle, and an auxiliary headlight detachably mounted on the safety helmet worn by the vehicle operator and detachably connected, by electrical circuit connecting means to a mutual power source carried on the vehicle and simultaneously operable by the main lighting switch located on the vehicle for easy access by the vehicle operator, to project an auxiliary beam of light in conjunction with the beam of light projected by the main headlight. The auxiliary headlight is capable of projecting the auxiliary beam of light in a plurality of directions independent of the direction of the beam of light of the main headlight. The main headlight and the auxiliary headlight are spaced apart so as to project two distinct separate sources of light when viewed from a remote location. The auxiliary headlight is detachably mounted by means of snap fasteners or by means of other detachable fastening means so as to be readily freed, under the force of impact, from the helmet.

The auxiliary headlight is adjustable with respect to the helmet to compensate for slight variations from driver to driver in achieving a comfortable fitting of the helmet with proper beam alignment to the line of slight. In one embodiment of mounting, the auxiliary headlight is adjustable about a line along the periphery of the helmet to provide adjustability of the beam of light. The auxiliary headlight may contain a headlight as well as a parking light and the two may be connected in an electrical circuit with the conventional lighting system of the vehicle so that the auxiliary headlight is on when the high beam of the vehicle main headlight is on and the amber parking light is on when the low beam of the vehicle main headlight is on.

Claims

1. In a lighting system for an open vehicle carrying an operator exposed to the vehicle surroundings, including a main headlight having means to rigidly secure it to the vehicle for projecting a beam of light forward of the vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting the main headlight to a power source, a switch forming part of the electrical circuit, the switch being located for access by the operator and activatable by the operator to cause the main headlight to project a beam of light, the improvement therein comprising an auxiliary headlight detachably mounted on a helmet worn by the vehicle operator, electrical circuit connecting means detachably connecting the auxiliary headlight to the electrical circuit and switch of the main headlight to be activatable by the operator to project an auxiliary beam of light in conjunction therewith, the auxiliary headlight projecting the auxiliary beam of light in a plurality of directions independent of the direction of the beam of the main headlight at the discretion of the vehicle operator under conditions of vehicle use and the main headlight and the auxiliary headlight being spaced apart in a vertical plane normal to the path of travel of the vehicle to project two distinct separate sources of light when viewed from a remote location in the forward path of travel of the vehicle, whereby improved illumination of the path of travel of the vehicle, enhanced visibility of the vehicle and operator and greater safety of operation is obtained.

2. The improved lighting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the auxiliary headlight is detachably mounted on the helmet by mounting means enabling mounting and dismounting by hand and providing secure mounting sufficient to withstand the force of wind normally encountered in vehicular use but insufficient to withstand forces due to sudden impact.

3. The improved lighting system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mounting means are snap-type fasteners, the respective mating portions of which are permanently attached to the helmet and auxiliary headlight, respectively.

4. In a lighting system for an open vehicle carrying an operator exposed to the vehicle surroundings including a main headlight having means to rigidly secure it to the vehicle for projecting a beam of light forward of the vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting the main headlight to a power source, a switch forming part of the electrical circuit, the switch being located for access by the operator and activatable by the operator to cause the main headlight to project a beam of light, the improvement therein comprising an auxiliary headlight detachably mounted on a helmet worn by the vehicle operator by mounting means comprising a strap extending around the outer periphery of the helmet from the back to the front of the helmet, the strap being adjustable to be tightened against the helmet outer surface, a straddle hook located on the auxiliary headlight, the straddle hook having a hook portion which engages the underside of the strap, spring means normally urging the straddle hook away from the strap when the auxiliary headlight is mounted on the helmet in order to provide tension-fit engagement between the hook portion and the strap, the straddle hook being hand actuatably displacable towards the strap for engagement and disengagement of the hook therewith for engaging the strap at a plurality of locations along its length to mount the auxiliary headlight in a plurality of positions along the helmet periphery defined by the strap for convenient auxiliary headlight beam aiming, electrical circuit connecting means detachably connecting the auxiliary headlight to the electrical circuit and switch of the main headlight to be activatable by the operator to project an auxiliary beam of light in conjunction therewith, and the main headlight and the auxiliary headlight being spaced apart in a vertical plane normal to the path of travel of the vehicle to project two distinct separate sources of light when viewed from a remote location in the forward path of travel of the vehicle, whereby the auxiliary headlight may project the auxiliary beam of light in a plurality of directions independent of the direction of the beam of the main headlight and at the discretion of the vehicle operator under conditions of vehicle use and improved illumination of the path of travel of the vehicle, enhanced visibility of the vehicle and operator and greater safety of operation is obtained.

5. The improved lighting system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the strap is secured to the helmet at its forward end by hand operable detachable mounting and dismounting means providing secure mounting sufficient to withstand the force of wind normally encountered in vehicular use by insufficient to withstand forces due to sudden impact.

6. In a lighting system for an open vehicle carrying an operator exposed to the vehicle surroundings including a main headlight having a high beam and a low beam, the main headlight having means to rigidly secure it to the vehicle for projecting a beam of light forward of the vehicle, an electrical circuit connecting the main headlight to a power source, a switch forming part of the electrical circuit, the switch being located for access by the operator and activatable by the operator to cause the main headlight to project a beam of light, the improvement therein comprising an auxiliary headlight comprising a headlight beam and a parking light detachably mounted on a helmet worn by the vehicle operator, electrical circuit connecting means detachably connecting the auxiliary headlight to the electrical circuit and switch of the main headlight to be activatable by the operator to project an auxiliary beam of light in conjunction therewith so that the activation of the switch activates the auxiliary headlight to project a headlight beam when the main headlight is on high beam and to actuate the parking light when the main headlight is on low beam, and the main headlight and the auxiliary headlight being spaced part in a vertical plane normal to the path of travel of the vehicle to project two distinct separate sources of light when viewed from a remote location in the forward path of travel of the vehicle, whereby the auxiliary headlight may project the auxiliary beam of light in a plurality of directions independent of the direction of the beam of the main headlight and at the discretion of the vehicle operator under conditions of vehicle use and improved illumination of the path of travel of the vehicle, enhanced visibility of the vehicle and operator and greater safety of operation is obtained.

7. A headlight for removable attachment to a safety helmet worn by the operator of an open vehicle to provide a headlight beam source auxiliary to an open vehicle conventional lighting system comprising a housing defining a space enclosing lighting means including means for projecting a headlight-type intensity beam, mounting means operatively connected to the housing for detachably mounting the headlight on the helmet, the mounting means comprises a strap extending around the outer periphery of the helmet from the back to the front of the helmet, the strap being adjustable to be tightened against the helmet outer surface, a straddle hook located on the housing, the straddle hook having a hook portion which engages the underside of the strap, spring means normally urging the straddle hook away from the strap when the headlight is mounted on the helmet in order to provide tension-fitting engagement between the hook portion and the strap, the straddle hook being hand actuatably displaceable towards the strap for engagement and disengagement of the hook therewith for engaging the strap at a plurality of locations along its length to mount the headlight in a plurality of positions along the helmet periphery defined by the strap, the mounting means enabling mounting and dismounting by hand and providing secure mounting sufficient to withstand the force of wind normally encountered in vehicular use but insufficient to withstand forces due to sudden impact, the headlight, when mounted, projecting a beam of light in a plurality of directions independent of the vehicle at the discretion of the vehicle operator, and electrical circuit connecting means for detachably connecting the headlight a conventional lighting system of the vehicle.

8. The headlight as claimed in claim 7 wherein the strap is secured to the helmet at its forward end by hand operated detachable mounting and dismounting means providing secure mounting sufficient to withstand the force of wind normally encountered in vehicular use but insufficient to withstand forces due to sudden impact.

9. The headlight as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vehicle conventional lighting system includes a main headlight for projecting a high beam and a low beam and a switch activatable to select any of these beams, the helmet mountable headlight comprises a headlight beam and a parking light, and the electrical circuit connecting the headlight to the vehicle lighting system is connected therewith so that activation of the switch activates the helmet mountable headlight to project a headlight beam when the main headlight is on high beam and to project a parking light when the main headlight is on low beam.

10. A headlight for removable attachment to a safety helmet worn by the operator of an open vehicle to provide a headlight beam source auxiliary to an open vehicle conventional lighting system comprising a housing defining a space enclosing lighting means including means for projecting a headlight-type intensity beam, mounting means operatively connected to the housing for detachably mounting the headlight on the helmet, the mounting means enabling mounting and dismounting by hand and providing secure mounting sufficient to withstand the forces of wind normally encountered in vehicular use but insufficient to withstand forces due to sudden impact, such that the headlight breaks free from the helmet without injury to the wearer under sudden impact forces, the headlight, when mounted, projecting a beam of light in a plurality of directions independent of the vehicle at the discretion of the vehicle operator, and electrical circuit connecting means for detachably connecting the headlight to a conventional lighting system of the vehicle.