Headgear having a holding device for holding an instrument

• US 5,412,811 A
• Filed: 10/02/1992
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Original Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
• Inventors: Hildenbrand, Peter, Gottlob, Heinz, Matuschek, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLEKSA, DIANA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US07/955,976
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 2/10, 2/417, 2/418, 2/419, 2/420, 2/422, 2/6, 2/6.3, 2/6.5, 2/6.7, 351/155, 351/156, 351/205, 128/23, 248/186, 248/289.1, 359/409, 359/410, 359/411, 602/16
• US Class Current: 2/10
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/0433 Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/502 Headgear, e.g. helmet, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/02 characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/084 Head fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight

Abstract

The invention is directed to a headgear with a holding device for a measuring unit, illuminating unit or viewing unit. The headgear has a headband and a frontal band and is mounted on the head of the wearer of the headgear. A base body is mounted on the frontal band and a bracket for holding the unit is attached to said base body by a clamping device. The clamping device is manually actuable between a fixing position wherein the bracket is movably fixed relative to the base body and a releasing position wherein the bracket is released so as to permit movement of the bracket in elevation relative to the base body. A detent device permits the bracket to be rotated relative to the base body while the clamping device is in the fixing position.

Claims

1. A headgear to be worn on the head and adapted for holding a measuring unit, illuminating unit or viewing unit, the headgear comprising:

a frontal band extending around the circumference of the head of the wearer and having a front end portion;

a headband extending over the head of the wearer and having respective headband ends connected to said frontal band;

a holding device including;

a base body mounted on said front end portion;

a bracket having holding means for holding the unit; and

, clamping means for connecting said bracket to said base body;

said base body having a slot formed therein so as to extend in a substantially vertical direction;

said clamping means including;

pivot pin means defining a pivot axis and being mounted in said bracket and extending through said slot; and

, manually actuable tightening means for coacting with said pivot pin means to release said bracket and permit movement of said bracket in elevation along said slot in a first line of movement relative to said base and to fix said bracket at any desired location in elevation along said slot;

said bracket being pivotally mounted on said pivot pin means so as to pivot about said pivot axis and be movable through an angular range and along a predetermined second line of movement relative to said base body while said bracket is at any location along said first line; and

,

detent means for latching said bracket only in a plurality of angular positions about said pivot axis within said angular range; and

,

said detent means including detents on said pivot pin means for fixing said positions one next to the other at predetermined intervals within said angular range; and

, a resiliently-biased pressure piece mounted in said bracket for engaging any one of said detents for latching and fixing said bracket at the angular position corresponding to said one detent.

2. The headgear of claim 1, said frontal band having first and second rearward frontal band segments having respective end portions;

and, an adjusting receptacle device having a housing for receiving said end portions therein; and

, displacing means mounted in said housing for displacing the respective portions of said end portions in said housing relative to each other to increase or decrease the overall length of said frontal band thereby adapting said frontal band to the circumference of the head of the wearer.

3. The headgear of claim 2, further comprising first and second connecting means for rotatably connecting said headband ends to said frontal band so as to permit a rotational movement of said headband along a predetermined line of movement relative to said frontal band.

4. The headgear of claim 1, said frontal band being subdivided into a forward part having first and second ends and a rearward part having first and second ends;

first connecting means for connecting said first ends together so as to permit said first ends to rotate relative to each other;

second connecting means for connecting said second ends to each other so as to permit said second ends to rotate relative to each other; and

, said first and second connecting means being disposed opposite each other on said frontal band so as to permit one of said parts to be rotatable relative to the other one of said segments along a predetermined line of movement.

5. The headgear of claim 4, said rearward part having first and second rearward frontal band segments having respective end portions;

and, an adjusting receptacle device having a housing for receiving said end portions therein; and

, displacing means mounted in said housing for displacing the respective end portions in said housing relative to each other to increase or decrease the overall length of said frontal band thereby adapting said frontal band to the circumference of the head of the wearer.

6. The headgear of claim 5, said adjusting receptacle device including an elastically bendable carrier mounted thereon;

and, padding means mounted on said carrier for placement in contact with the head of the wearer.

7. The headgear of claim 1, said headband having first and second headband parts having respective ones of said headband ends;

said first and second headband parts having respective free end portions facing away from said headband ends;

an adjusting receptacle device having a housing for receiving said free end portions therein;

displacing means mounted in said housing for displacing said free end portions relative to each other to increase or decrease the overall length of said headband thereby adapting said headband to the head of the wearer; and

, latching means mounted in said housing for fixing said free end portions relative to each other when said overall length is set.

8. The headgear of claim 7, said latching means including rotatable interdigitally engaging means mounted in said housing for interdigitally engaging said free end parts;

and, a slide slideably mounted in said housing for movement between a first position wherein said slide latches said interdigitally engaging means for fixing said interdigitally engaging means and said free end portions to report movement thereof and a second position when said interdigitally engaging means and said free end parts are free to move relative to each other.

9. The headgear of claim 1, further comprising a protective cap for placement on said unit when manually grasping said unit for adjusting said unit in position;

and, said protective cap being made from a material which permits said protective cap to be easily disinfected,

10. The headgear of claim 1, said holding means comprising an elongated extension piece having a first end for receiving said unit thereon and a second end having a ball formed thereon;

a socket opening on said bracket for receiving said ball therein so as to permit said elongated extension piece to pivot in said socket opening; and

, clamping means for clamping said ball for fixing said elongated extension piece in position on said bracket.

11. The headgear of claim 1, further comprising first and second connecting means for rotatably connecting said headband ends to said frontal band so as to permit a rotational movement of said headband along a predetermined line of movement relative to said frontal band.

12. The headgear of claim 11, said frontal band being subdivided into a forward part having first and second ends and a rearward part having first and second ends;

first connecting means for connecting said first ends together so as to permit said first ends to rotate relative to each other;

second connecting means for connecting said second ends to each other so as to permit said second ends to rotate relative to each other; and

, said first and second connecting means being disposed opposite each other on said frontal band so as to permit one of said parts to be rotatable relative to the other one of said segments along a predetermined line of movement.

13. The headgear of claim 12, said rearward part having first and second rearward frontal band segments having respective end portions;

and, an adjusting receptacle device having a housing for receiving said end portions therein; and

, displacing means mounted in said housing for displacing the respective end portions in said housing relative to each other to increase or decrease the overall length of said frontal band thereby adapting said frontal band to the circumference of the head of the wearer.

14. The headgear of claim 11, said headband having first and second headband parts having respective ones of said headband ends;

said first and second headband parts having respective free end portions facing away from said headband ends;

an adjusting receptacle device having a housing for receiving said free end portions therein displacing means mounted in said housing for displacing said free end portions relative to each other to increase or decrease the overall length of said headband thereby adapting said headband to the head of the wearer; and

, latching means mounted in said housing for fixing said free end portions relative to each other when said overall length is set.

15. The headgear of claim 14, said latching means including rotatable interdigitally engaging means mounted in said housing for interdigitally engaging said free end parts;

and, a slide slideably mounted in said housing for movement between a first position wherein said slide latches said interdigitally engaging means for fixing said interdigitally engaging means and said free end portions to prevent movement thereof and a second position when said interdigitally engaging means and said free end parts are free to move relative to each other.

16. The headgear of claim 11, further comprising a protective cap for placement on said unit when manually grasping said unit for adjusting said unit in position;

and, said protective cap being made from a material which permits said protective cap to be easily disinfected.

17. The headgear of claim 11, further comprising an elongated extension piece having a first end for receiving said unit thereon and a second end having a ball formed thereon;

said bracket having a socket opening for receiving said ball therein so as to permit said elongated extension piece to pivot in said socket opening; and

, clamping means for clamping said ball for fixing said elongated extension piece in position.

18. The headgear of claim 11, said adjusting receptacle device including an elastically bendable carrier mounted thereon;

and, padding means mounted on said carrier for placement in contact with the head of the wearer.

19. The headgear of claim 1, said frontal band and said headband having respective inner surfaces facing toward the head of the wearer;

and said headgear further comprising;

first padding means mounted on the inner surface of said frontal band at said front end portion;

second padding means mounted on said inner surface of said frontal band at the neck region of the wearer; and

, third padding means mounted on said inner surface of said headband.

20. The headgear of claim 19, further comprising a hook and loop fastener for each of said padding means;

each of said padding means having a rearward side;

said hook and loop fastener having a soft part attached to the rearward side of the padding means and a hard part attached to the inner surface of the corresponding band.

21. The headgear of claim 19, each of said padding means including a surface casing made of a material permeable to sweat;

and, a material for absorbing sweat disposed within the casing.

22. The headgear of claim 21, said surface casing being made of polypropylene.

23. The headgear of claim 22, said material being made of viscose needlefelt.

24. The headgear of claim 19, further comprising an elastically bendable carrier interposed between each of said padding means and the inner surface for holding the padding means corresponding thereto.

25. The headgear of claim 19, a first carrier interposed between said frontal band at the neck region and said second padding means;

said first carrier having holding means for holding the latter; and

, a second carrier interposed between said headband and said third padding means;

said second carrier having holding means for holding the latter; and

, each of said carriers being made of a bendable elastic material.