Hard hat outer shell having clear acrylic construction and internal illumination

• US 7,950,074 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WW Grainger Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WW Grainger Incorporated
• Inventors: Loizzo, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moran; Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): QUINN, RICHALE LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/901,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 241/0, 242/2, 2/9, 2/62, 242/3, 362/106, 362/105, 362/570
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/061 External coatings, e.g. with light reflective material helmet covers A42B3/003

Abstract

A hard hat which includes an outer shell constructed entirely of clear acrylic that is additionally provided with a means to internally illuminate the clear acrylic outer shell.

Claims

1. A hard hat comprising:

an outer shell of unitary construction;

a harness directly attached to an interior surface of the outer shell; and

an illumination device for illuminating the outer shell;

wherein the entirety of the outer shell is formed using a clear acrylic such that the entirety of the outer shell is transparent and the harness is thereby visible through the outer shell, wherein the illumination device comprises a light emitting diode (LED), and wherein the LED is positioned within and fused into the clear acrylic outer shell.

2. The hard hat as recited in claim 1, wherein the LED comprises a multicolor LED.

3. The hard hat as recited in claim 1, wherein the illumination device comprises a power source, wherein the power source is attached to an exterior surface of the clear acrylic outer shell, and wherein the power source is used to provide power for illuminating the LED.

4. The hard hat as recited in claim 3, wherein the power source is detachable from the exterior surface of the clear acrylic outer shell.

5. The hard hat as recited in claim 3, wherein the power source is rechargeable.

6. The hard hat as recited in claim 1 wherein the illumination device comprises a power source, wherein the power source is attached to the interior surface of the clear acrylic outer shell in an area that is between the outer shell and the harness, and wherein the power source is used to provide power for illuminating the LED.

7. The hard hat as recited in claim 6, wherein the power source is detachable from the interior surface of the clear acrylic outer shell.

8. The hard hat as recited in claim 6, wherein the power source is rechargeable.

9. The hard hat as recited in claim 1, wherein the illumination device comprises a light sensing circuit whereby the LED is caused to illuminate as a function of a sensed lighting condition.

10. The hard hat as recited in claim 1, wherein the LED is manually caused to be illuminated.