Visor defroster
First Claim
1. In combination, an optically transparent face shield adapted to be mounted on a helmet of the type worn by an outdoor open air vehicle operator, a resistance heating coil fixedly secured on a first surface of the visor, the first visor surface being the visor surface in closest proximity to the face of the operator, said coil having a tortous path that does not interfere with the field of view of the driver and including horizontally and vertically extending segments, adjacent ones of the horizontally extending segments having ends in proximity to edges of the visor and being electrically connected to each other by the vertically extending segments, an electric connector housing fixedly attached to a lower corner of the visor on a second surface of the visor opposite from the first surface, the bottom horizontally extending segment having an end terminating at and electrically connected to a first terminal of the connector housing, said end of the bottom horizontally extending segment not being connected to a vertically extending segment, the vertically extending segment connected to an end of the top horizontally extending segment on the same side of the visor as said end of the bottom horizontally extending segment having a bottom end electrically connected to a second terminal of the connector housing, the bottom end of the vertically extending segment not being connected to a horizontally extending segment, the connector housing being located to the side of and approximately at the same horizontal level as the mouth of the pertor when the shield is being worn, a cable having first and second lead wires, connector means for respectively electrically connecting one side of the first and second lead wires to the first and second terminals, a second side of the first and second lead wires respectively terminating on a center metal pin and exterior metal taps of a male electric connector jack adapted to be connected to a female electric connector jack fixedly mounted on an open air vehicle having a power supply connected to the female jack, the connections of the cable to the jack and to the connector means and the cable length and configuration being such that (a) the operator wearing the visor while the cable is connected to the connector means and the jacks so the element is energized by the power supply is able to move normally in a cockpit of the vehicle without affecting the electric connection between the jacks, the cable and the connector means, (b) the male jack pulls out of the female jack without affecting the connection of the cable to the element via the terminal means in response to a sudden force exerted on the cable, as in the case of the operator encountering an emergency, and (c) the cable is not pulled from the connector means when it contacts unavoidable obstructions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Condensed breath vapor is removed from visors on helmets adapted to be used by drivers of open air outdoor vehicles, such as snowmobiles, motorcycles, and all terrain vehicles, by applying electric current to a resistance heater coil on the visor. The heating coil is electrically connected to a connector mounted on the visor. The connector is electrically connected by a helically coiled cable to an assembly mounted on the vehicle dashboard. The assembly includes a female jack for receiving a male jack at the end of the coiled helical cable. The assembly also includes a switch for connecting the jack to a power supply of the vehicle, so that electric energy from the power supply can be coupled selectively to the female jack at two power levels.
52 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. In combination, an optically transparent face shield adapted to be mounted on a helmet of the type worn by an outdoor open air vehicle operator, a resistance heating coil fixedly secured on a first surface of the visor, the first visor surface being the visor surface in closest proximity to the face of the operator, said coil having a tortous path that does not interfere with the field of view of the driver and including horizontally and vertically extending segments, adjacent ones of the horizontally extending segments having ends in proximity to edges of the visor and being electrically connected to each other by the vertically extending segments, an electric connector housing fixedly attached to a lower corner of the visor on a second surface of the visor opposite from the first surface, the bottom horizontally extending segment having an end terminating at and electrically connected to a first terminal of the connector housing, said end of the bottom horizontally extending segment not being connected to a vertically extending segment, the vertically extending segment connected to an end of the top horizontally extending segment on the same side of the visor as said end of the bottom horizontally extending segment having a bottom end electrically connected to a second terminal of the connector housing, the bottom end of the vertically extending segment not being connected to a horizontally extending segment, the connector housing being located to the side of and approximately at the same horizontal level as the mouth of the pertor when the shield is being worn, a cable having first and second lead wires, connector means for respectively electrically connecting one side of the first and second lead wires to the first and second terminals, a second side of the first and second lead wires respectively terminating on a center metal pin and exterior metal taps of a male electric connector jack adapted to be connected to a female electric connector jack fixedly mounted on an open air vehicle having a power supply connected to the female jack, the connections of the cable to the jack and to the connector means and the cable length and configuration being such that (a) the operator wearing the visor while the cable is connected to the connector means and the jacks so the element is energized by the power supply is able to move normally in a cockpit of the vehicle without affecting the electric connection between the jacks, the cable and the connector means, (b) the male jack pulls out of the female jack without affecting the connection of the cable to the element via the terminal means in response to a sudden force exerted on the cable, as in the case of the operator encountering an emergency, and (c) the cable is not pulled from the connector means when it contacts unavoidable obstructions.
- 10. A method of preventing and/or removing condensed human breath vapor and/or ice on an optically transparent visor worn by an operator of an open air outdoor vehicle having an electric power supply, such as a snowmobile, motorcycle or all terrain vehicle, comprising the steps of applying an electric resistance heating coil to the visor such that the coil does not affect the field of view of the operator wearing the visor, mounting a female connector on the vehicle, connecting said female connector to the power supply, providing a helical coiled cable with a male connector jack at one end, mechanically and electrically connecting the other end of said connector to the element on the visor, and inserting the male connector jack into the female connector to establish a connection from the power supply to the heat producing element such that the power supply feeds energy to the coil to heat the visor sufficiently to prevent and/or remove the condensation, the connections to the the jack and the visor and the cable being arranged so that (a) the cable coils and uncoils as the operator moves in a normal manner, and (b) the jack pulls out of the female connector without affecting the connection to the visor in response to a sudden force exerted on the cable, as in the case of the operator encountering an emergency, and (c) the cable is not pulled from the visor when it contacts unavoidable obstructions.
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12. In combination, an optically transparent visor adapted to be worn as a face and eye protector for an operator, means for preventing and/or removing condensed breath vapor and/or ice of the operator on the visor, said vapor and/or ice preventing and/or removing means comprising:
- an electric heat producing element positioned on the visor such that the element does not affect the field of view of the operator wearing the visor, a cable having a male electric connector jack at one end, a housing mounted on the visor, the housing including electric connector means for electrically connecting leads at the other end of the cable to the heat producing element, the male jack being adapted to be connected to a female electric connector jack fixedly mounted on an open air vehicle and energized by a vehicle power supply for supplying sufficient energy to the element via the cable, jacks and connector means to prevent and/or remove the vapor, the connections of the cable to the jacks and to the connector means and the cable length and configuration being such that (a) the operator wearing the visor while the cable is connected to the connector means and the jacks so the element is energized by the power supply is able to move normally in a cockpit of the vehicle without affecting the electric connection between the jacks, the cable and the connector means, (b) the male jack pulls out of the female jack without affecting the connection of the cable to the element via the terminal means in response to a sudden force exerted on the cable, as in the case of the operator encountering an emergency, and (c) the cable is not pulled from the connector means when it contacts unavoidable obstructions.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification