Headgear with forward illumination

• US 6,733,150 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayshore Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Edward Hanley
• Inventors: Hanley, Edward B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US10/126,906
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/105, 362/106, 362/231, 362/234, 362/800, 220/913
• US Class Current: 362/106
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/244 Means for mounting lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The disclosed device is directed towards an illumination headgear. The illumination headgear comprises a crown having a lower edge. A brim is disposed on the crown proximate to the lower edge. The brim has a rim disposed along the perimeter of the brim distal from the lower edge. An array of contiguous light emitting diodes is integral within the brim and proximate to said rim. The array of contiguous light emitting diodes is focused to form a contiguous beam.

Claims

1. An illumination headgear for viewing objects comprising:

a crown having a lower edge;

a brim disposed on said crown proximate to said lower edge, said brim having a rim disposed along the perimeter of said brim distal from said lower edge; and

an array of contiguous light emitting diodes integral within said brim and proximate to said rim, said array of contiguous light emitting diodes focused to form a contiguous beam.

2. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said light emitting diodes are coupled to a power source through a switch.

3. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said brim includes a main panel having a top covering disposed over an upper surface thereof and a lower covering disposed over a lower surface thereof and said array of contiguous light emitting diodes is disposed between said top covering and said main panel at said rim.

4. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said brim includes a main panel and a top covering disposed over an upper surface thereof and a lower covering disposed over a lower surface thereof and said array of contiguous light emitting diodes is disposed between said lower covering and said main panel at said rim.

5. The illumination device of claim 2 wherein said power source is located within said crown.

6. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said array of light emitting diodes is disposed proximate to said rim and flush with said rim.

7. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said array of light emitting diodes is disposed proximate to said rim and protrudes beyond said rim.

8. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said array of light emitting diodes is disposed proximate to said rim and is recessed in said rim.

9. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said array of light emitting diodes includes at least one separately controlled light emitting diode to illuminate said object.

10. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein at least one light emitting diode of said array of light emitting diodes is selected from the group consisting of white light, red light, blue light, green light, yellow light, infrared light and ultraviolet light.

11. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said array of light emitting diodes is coupled to an energy conserving circuit.

12. The illumination device of claim 2 wherein said power source is encased in a moisture tight case demountably coupled to said crown.

13. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said headgear is selected from the group consisting of a ball cap, a hardhat, a firefighter helmet, a jungle hat, a military helmet cover and a sports helmet.

14. An illumination headgear for viewing objects comprising:

a headgear including a crown having a lower edge coupled to a brim extending distally from said crown, said brim having a base defining the perimeter of said brim coupled to said lower edge and a rim along a perimeter of said brim distal from said base;

a power source demountably coupled to said crown; and

at least one light emitting diode configured to form a single non-segmented beam to illuminate objects in an area, said at least one light emitting diode disposed integral within said brim at said rim of said headgear.

15. The illumination device of claim 14 wherein said at least one light emitting diode is controlled to vary the single non-segmented beam to illuminate said objects in an area.

16. The illumination device of claim 14 wherein said headgear is selected from the group consisting of a ball cap, a hardhat, a firefighter helmet, a jungle hat, a military helmet cover and a sports helmet.

17. The illumination device of claim 14 wherein said at least one light emitting diode is demountably coupled to said headgear.

18. The illumination device of claim 14 wherein said at least one light emitting diode is coupled to a multi-switch.

19. An illumination headgear for viewing objects comprising:

a headgear having a headband configured to encircle a wearers head, a brim coupled to said headband located proximate to said wearers forehead; and

an array of contiguous light emitting diodes integral with said brim, said array of contiguous light emitting diodes configured to form a contiguous beam to illuminate an object.

20. The illumination device of claim 19 wherein said headgear is a visor.

21. The illumination device of claim 19 wherein said headgear is a diving mask.

22. A method of using an illumination headgear comprising:

mounting the illumination headgear to a wearers head, said illumination headgear including a brim proximate to said wearers forehead and a light source integral within said brim at a rim of said brim, said light source including at least one array of contiguous light emitting diodes configured to form a contiguous beam to illuminate an object;

activating said at least one light emitting diode of said array of contiguous light emitting diodes;

directing said contiguous beam emitted from said array of contiguous light emitting diodes toward an object to be viewed.

23. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 22 wherein at least one of said light emitting diodes is an ultraviolet light.

24. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 22 further comprising:

directing ultraviolet light emitted from said light source toward an object that fluoresces with exposure to ultraviolet light;

observing said fluorescence.

25. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 24 wherein said object that fluoresces includes indications on a printed matter.

26. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 24 wherein said object that fluoresces is a creature.

27. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 24 wherein said object that fluoresces is a mineral.

28. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 24 wherein said object that fluoresces is a chemical compound.

29. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 22 wherein said object to be viewed is a creature.

30. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 29 further comprising:

directing said contiguous beam emitted from said array of contiguous light emitting diodes at said creature.

31. The method of using an illumination headgear of claim 30 further comprising:

adjusting an angle of reflection from about zero degrees to about three degrees, said angle of reflection including the angle between a ray of light from said array of contiguous light emitting diodes and a ray of light reflected back from an eye of said creature.