Safety helmet with speaker assembly

• US 9,060,221 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ari A. Kaplan
• Original Assignee: Ari A. Kaplan
• Inventors: Kaplan, Ari A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US13/724,460
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 381/120, 381/415, 381 77- 79, 381/85, 381/300, 381/376, 381/386, 381/387, 455/414.1, 707/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/30 Mounting radio sets or communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10

Abstract

A safety helmet having a protective shell head covering and a front edge, a rear edge, and first and second lateral edges. A speaker assembly has at least one speaker mounted onto the helmet and aimed outwardly therefrom. The speaker assembly has means to receive audio signals from a portable sound signal-producing device. The at least one speaker mounted onto the helmet and aimed outwardly therefrom emanates sound directed approximately perpendicularly from the protective shell head covering without blocking surrounding sound, and without affecting safety aspects of the helmet.

Claims

1. A safety helmet, comprising:

A) a helmet comprising an apex area and front and rear edges, and lateral edges;

B) a speaker assembly comprising at least one speaker mounted onto said apex area of said helmet and aimed outwardly therefrom, said at least one speaker emanates sound directed approximately perpendicularly from said helmet without blocking surrounding sound, said speaker assembly comprising means to receive audio signals, said audio signals stream through a portable sound signal-producing device that is a portable media player or digital audio player, said portable media player and said digital audio player are consumer electronics devices capable of storing and playing digital media including audio, images, video, and/or documents, said digital media is stored on a hard drive, microdrive, and/or flash memory; and

C) a strap assembly.

2. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said speaker assembly is integrally mounted onto said helmet.

3. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said at least one speaker is countersunk.

4. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said audio signals are stored in cloud storage.

5. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said consumer electronics devices include computers, smartphones, cellphones, internet tablets, tablet computers, digital cameras, and MP3 players.

6. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises an open wireless technology.

7. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over distances.

8. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over distances using radio transmissions.

9. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over distances using short-wavelength radio transmissions.

10. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises audio cables.

11. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises audio cables extending therefrom.

12. The safety helmet set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said means to receive said audio signals comprises audio cables extending to said speaker assembly.

13. A safety helmet, comprising:

A) a helmet comprising front and rear edges, lateral edges, and an apex area, extending from said front edge are first and second forward quadrants, and extending from said rear edge are first and second rear quadrants;

B) a speaker assembly comprising at least one speaker mounted onto said first and/or second forward quadrants of said helmet and aimed outwardly therefrom, said at least one speaker emanates sound directed approximately perpendicularly from said helmet without blocking surrounding sound, said speaker assembly comprising means to receive audio signals, said audio signals stream through a portable sound signal-producing device that is a portable media player or digital audio player, said portable media player and said digital audio player are consumer electronics devices capable of storing and playing digital media including audio, images, video, and/or documents, said digital media is stored on a hard drive, microdrive, and/or flash memory; and

C) a strap assembly.

14. A safety helmet, comprising:

A) a helmet comprising front and rear edges, lateral edges, and an apex area, extending from said front edge are first and second forward quadrants, and extending from said rear edge are first and second rear quadrants;

B) a speaker assembly comprising at least one speaker mounted onto said first and/or second rear quadrants of said helmet and aimed outwardly therefrom, said at least one speaker emanates sound directed approximately perpendicularly from said helmet without blocking surrounding sound, said speaker assembly comprising means to receive audio signals, said audio signals stream through a portable sound signal-producing device that is a portable media player or digital audio player, said portable media player and said digital audio player are consumer electronics devices capable of storing and playing digital media including audio, images, video, and/or documents, said digital media is stored on a hard drive, microdrive, and/or flash memory; and

C) a strap assembly.