Headgear with illumination and message indication means

• US 6,752,510 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fredrick K. Appiah
• Original Assignee: Fredrick K. Appiah
• Inventors: Appiah, Fredrick K.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/122,913
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/105, 362/106, 362/157, 362/190, 362/191, 362/208, 362/459, 362/473, 362/475, 362/476, 362/540, 362/543, 362/544, 362/545, 362/546, 362/549
• US Class Current: 362/106
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps

Abstract

Headgear for increasing the visibility of a wearer of the headgear to other especially in low light or no light conditions. The headgear includes a shell for being worn on the head of the user. The headgear may also include a rear light transmitter on the rear of the shell, a forward light transmitter on the front of the shell, a top light transmitter on the top of the shell, and side light transmitters on each of the sides of the shell. The headgear may also include a message indicator mounted on the shell for displaying alphanumeric characters, and the display of the message indicator maybe oriented in a direction extending rearwardly from the shell for permitting a person behind the wearer to view the display.

Claims

1. Headgear comprising:

a shell having a top portion for positioning adjacent to a top of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a rear portion extending downwardly from the top portion for positioning adjacent to a rear of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a front portion extending downwardly from the top portion, and laterally-spaced side portions extending downwardly from the top portion and forwardly from the rear portion for positioning adjacent to sides of the head of the wearer when worn, the shell having an outer surface;

a top light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the top light transmitting means being mounted on the top portion of the shell;

a message indication means mounted on the shell, the message indicating means being positioned on the rear portion of the shell; and

a rear light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the rear light transmitting means being mounted on the rear portion of the shell.

2. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the light transmitting means extends outwardly from the outer surface of the shell for facilitating visibility of the light transmitting means from lateral sides with respect to the shell.

3. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the rear light transmitting means comprises a reflector.

4. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the rear light transmitting means comprises a light producing device.

5. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the rear light transmitting means transmits red light.

6. The headgear of claim 1 additionally comprising a side light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the side light transmitting means being mounted on each of the side portions of the shell.

7. The headgear of claim 1 additionally comprising flashing means for intermittently supplying power to the light transmitting means for producing an intermittent flashing of light by the light transmitting means.

8. The headgear of claim 1 additionally comprising a forward light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the forward light transmitting means being mounted on the front portion of the shell.

9. The headgear of claim 8 wherein the forward light transmitting means transmits yellow light.

10. The headgear of claim 1 additionally comprising a power source for providing power to the light transmitting means, the power source being mounted on the shell.

11. The headgear of claim 10 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

12. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the shell has a bottom opening for receiving a neck of a wearer when the shell is positioned on the head of the wearer.

13. The headgear of claim 12 wherein the shell has a front opening for positioning adjacent to a face of the wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer.

14. The headgear of claim 13 wherein the front opening is in communication with the bottom opening.

15. The headgear of claim 1 wherein the message indicating means includes a display capable of displaying alphanumeric characters, the display being oriented in a direction extending rearwardly from the shell for permitting a person behind the wearer to view the display.

16. The headgear of claim 15 wherein the message indicating means includes a controller for controlling the display.

17. The headgear of claim 16 wherein the controller includes scrolling means for scrolling alphanumeric characters across the display.

18. Headgear comprising:

a shell having a top portion for positioning adjacent to a top of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a rear portion extending downwardly from the top portion for positioning adjacent to a rear of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a front portion extending downwardly from the top portion, and laterally-spaced side portions extending downwardly from the top portion and forwardly from the rear portion for positioning adjacent to sides of the head of the wearer when worn, the shell having an outer surface;

a top light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the top light transmitting means being mounted on the top portion of the shell;

a message indication means mounted on the shell, the message indicating means being positioned on the rear portion of the shell; and

a forward light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the forward light transmitting means being mounted on the front portion of the shell.

19. The headgear of claim 18 wherein the message indicating means includes a display capable of displaying alphanumeric characters, the display being oriented in a direction extending rearwardly from the shell for permitting a person behind the wearer to view the display.

20. The headgear of claim 18 additionally comprising flashing means for intermittently supplying power to the light transmitting means for producing an intermittent flashing of light by the light transmitting means.

21. Headgear comprising:

a shell having a top portion for positioning adjacent to a top of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a rear portion extending downwardly from the top portion for positioning adjacent to a rear of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a front portion extending downwardly from the top portion, and laterally-spaced side portions extending downwardly from the top portion and forwardly from the rear portion for positioning adjacent to sides of the head of the wearer when worn, the shell having an outer surface;

a top light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the top light transmitting means being mounted on the top portion of the shell;

a message indication means mounted on the shell, the message indicating means being positioned on the rear portion of the shell; and

a side light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the side light transmitting means being mounted on each of the side portions of the shell.

22. The headgear of claim 21 wherein the message indicating means includes a display capable of displaying alphanumeric characters, the display being oriented in a direction extending rearwardly from the shell for permitting a person behind the wearer to view the display.

23. The headgear of claim 21 additionally comprising flashing means for intermittently supplying power to the light transmitting means for producing an intermittent flashing of light by the light transmitting means.

24. Headgear the headgear comprising:

a shell having a top portion for positioning adjacent to a top of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a rear portion extending downwardly from the top portion for positioning adjacent to a rear of the head of a wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, a front portion extending downwardly from the top portion, and laterally-spaced side portions extending downwardly from the top portion and forwardly from the rear portion for positioning adjacent to sides of the head of the wearer when worn, the shell having a bottom opening for receiving a neck of a wearer when the shell is positioned on the head of the wearer, the shell having a front opening for positioning adjacent to a face of the wearer when the shell is worn by the wearer, the front opening being in communication with the bottom opening, the shell having an outer surface;

a rear light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the rear light transmitting means being mounted on the rear portion of the shell, the rear light transmitting means transmitting red light,

wherein the rear light transmitting means extends outwardly from the outer surface of the shell for facilitating visibility of the rear light transmitting means from lateral sides with respect to the shell;

wherein the rear light transmitting means comprises a light producing device;

a forward light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the forward light transmitting means being mounted on the front portion of the shell, the forward light transmitting means transmitting yellow light,

wherein the forward light transmitting means extends outwardly from the outer surface of the shell for facilitating visibility of the forward light transmitting means from lateral sides with respect to the shell;

wherein the forward light transmitting means comprises a light producing device;

a top light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the top light transmitting means being mounted on the top portion of the shell,

wherein the top light transmitting means extends outwardly from the outer surface of the shell for facilitating visibility of the top light transmitting means from lateral sides with respect to the shell;

wherein the top light transmitting means comprises a reflector;

a side light transmitting means for transmitting light therefrom, the side light transmitting means being mounted on each of the side portions of the shell,

wherein the side light transmitting means comprises a pair of reflectors with one of the reflectors being mounted on each of the side portions of the shell;

wherein the side light transmitting means comprises a pair of side light producing devices with each of the light producing devices being mounted on each of the side portions;

a message indication means mounted on the shell, the message indicating means being positioned on the rear portion of the shell, the message indicating means comprising;

a display capable of displaying alphanumeric characters, the display being oriented in a direction extending rearwardly from the shell for permitting a person behind the wearer to view the display; and

a controller for controlling the display, the controller including scrolling means for scrolling alphanumeric characters across the display;

a power source for providing power to the light transmitting means, the power source being mounted on the shell, the power source comprising a rechargeable battery, the power source providing power of 12 volts;

flashing means for intermittently supplying power to the light transmitting means for producing an intermittent flashing of light by the light transmitting means, the flashing means being electrically connected between the power source and the light transmitting means; and

a switch for selectively providing power from the power source to the light transmitting means.